Chapter 10: Shopping at Monroeville Mall
The next day, I met Carly Shay and her parents, Sam and Freddie, at Golden Corral in Monroeville for breakfast. "Hi, guys!" I greeted my friends. "Hi, Angel!" Carly greeted back. "This restaurant has a lot of good things to eat for breakfast," Mrs. Shay told me. "It sure does," Mr. Benson agreed. I ended up getting 3 of my favorite foods- pancakes, bacon, and eggs. "I can't wait until we go over to James's apartment to have discussions with them next Saturday," Mrs. Shay told me. "Uh-huh," Carly agreed. "I hear that you guys have been talking about healthy eating. Is that true?" "Yes, Carly," I replied. "It is." "I was trying to lose weight the summer I was 14, and I grew some organic fruits like apples, bananas, grapes, strawberries, cherries, and watermelon," Carly told me. "Those were the exact same fruits we had in our fruit salad," I told Carly. "We also had eggs, bacon, waffles, milk, and yogurt." "James told me about you guys making breakfast," Mrs. Shay stated. "Henri told me, too," Mr. Benson agreed, "about whole-wheat waffles being better than white." After breakfast, Carly and her parents dropped me off at Monroeville Mall, where I met with my best friend, Emily Mistle and her sister, Erin, and more of my best friends Alex Russo, Justin Evans, and Max Greenwald. "Hi, guys!" I greeted more of my friends. "Hi, Angel!" Alex greeted back. First, we saw the new movie Thor: Ragnarok at the Cinemark before we ate lunch and did some shopping. Emily, Erin, and I got baked potatoes, while Alex ordered a turkey and cheese sandwich from Subway, Justin ordered Japanese food, and Max ordered pepperoni pizza from Sbarro at the food court. We looked in the toy store for some Thor action figures, and then Alex went to H&M to buy a new dress to wear for dinner at the Grand Concourse at the end of November. "I am so glad that I went to the mall once my junior year of high school during the winter," Alex told me. "There were so many good stores to look at," Justin agreed. "Even the stores with the action figures were good, too," Max chimed in. "Alex, is it okay if Erin and I accompany Angel to some more of your outings this week if we can?" Emily asked. "Yeah, what else are you guys doing this month?" Erin asked. "Well, next Sunday, we will have a discussion group at the Carnegie Library in Squirrel Hill, then get dinner at Sesame Inn afterwards," Alex told Emily and Erin. "Then, on November 19, we have plans to see Justice League at the Loew's Waterfront Theater, and finally, on November 26, we are going to the Grand Concourse for dinner." "Ooh, the Grand Concourse sounds like fun," Emily stated. "Maybe, Erin and I will think about coming." "It's a very formal event," Alex stated. "And, my silver dress cost 80 dollars!" "Do you know what shoes you will wear with your dress, Alex?" I stated. "Probably my silver high-heeled sandals, I am thinking," Alex told me, "because that is all I really have." "Sarah, James, and Henri are coming to these events, too," I told Emily and Erin. "Yes, they are," Alex agreed. "Hopefully, they will like all the events we have planned for them," Max told me. "Justin, you are not Facebook friends with James the way Mrs. Shay and Michael are," I told Justin. "No, I am not," Justin told me. "I don't even have a Facebook account." "I don't, either," I told Justin, "since my parents won't let me use Facebook." "I sure hope that Sarah and her brothers like all these fun activities coming up," Alex told me. "I am sure they will, Alex," I reassured my friend, "since Carly and her parents enjoyed the special outings you planned this fall, as well." Pretty soon, it was time for me, Emily, and Erin to go meet their brother, Michael at El Campesino for Mexican food. "Thanks for a great day, everyone!" I thanked my friends. "You're welcome, Angel," Alex replied. "Bye, guys!" "Bye!"