Birthday Fun
Family Chapter 12
So the girls night out birthday tradition is something new my mother just started this year with me and my sister. I thought that would be something neat to incorporate into the story.
September passed by in a blur and soon it was the beginning of October. Grace was relieved because Annie and Molly both seemed really well adjusted to school and their new social situations. There had been some concern about Molly not making friends brought to Oliver's & Grace's attention but that issue was quickly improved upon once Molly told her parents about her past experience with being bullied. Oliver, Grace and Molly's teachers Mrs. Richardson all made sure Molly had a safe and happy 6th grade experience.
Soon Grace found herself starting to plan Annie's 15th birthday party. She couldn't believe that in a year's time her oldest daughter would be old enough to drive. Grace had promised Annie that she and Mrs. Pugh would do something special with her for her birthday but she also wanted to plan a party with all her cousins and friends from school and the orphanage.
One early October day after school Grace called her older daughter out to the terrace to discuss birthday plans with her.
"Annie, sweetheart what do you want to do for your birthday?"
Well you and Grandma Helen did promise me a special girls night out… do you think we could go out to dinner in Queens and maybe invite Isabella to come with us?"
Grace smiled. "Of course darling. I'll call your Uncle Gene and see if she's available next Friday night."
Annie grinned "Great. I really like this idea of a girls night. I think it's a tradition we should do every year… for all of our birthdays.. yours mine and Molly's."
Grace gave her daughter a squeeze. "Good idea love."
"Next Saturday when we have my friends over can I please have them sleep over and we can watch Halloween movies?"
"I don't see why not. That sounds like a fun idea. Are you going to have a costume party too?"
"Nah, we have enough dressing up going on at school this week with all the themes for spirit week."
Annie had her Halloween movie sleep over the weekend before her birthday on Saturday October 21st. 20 girls in all between her cousins Margaret and Isabella, her friends from school and her friends from the orphanage. The girls stayed up til 2:30 in the morning talking and telling scary stories. Annie felt bad she couldn't include Molly in the sleepover but she'd likely get nightmares. They slept in until about 9:15 and Mrs. Pugh made scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast. After breakfast Grace took the girls apple picking. Parents arrived to pick their children up around 3:30pm.
That night Grace came in to kiss Annie good night as she always did.
"Did you fun with your friends and cousins sweetheart?"
Annie nodded. "Yes, Mom I sure did. Thank you so much for letting me have so many people sleep over and for taking us apple picking."
"You're welcome darling. Can't wait for our girls night out on your birthday."
Annie grinned up at her mother. "Neither can I! I love you Mom."
Grace kissed her daughter on the forehead. "I love you too darling, beyond words."
On Friday, Annie was anxious for school to be over. She couldn't wait to go out for dinner with her mom, grandmother and cousin Isabella for her birthday.
Annie got home from school, bypassing her after school snack so she could start her homework right away and get most of it done before going out for dinner. The dinner reservations were at 6 but since they had to pick up Isabella on the way they had to leave by at least 5:20. Annie got in the shower at 4:00 and picked out her favorite blue dress to wear for dinner. By 5:15 Mrs. Pugh, Grace and Annie were piled into the Duisenberg for a short car trip to Queens.
Annie skipped up the stairs of aunt and uncle's house to ring the bell. Her Aunt Anne answered the door.
"Hi Aunt Anne, is Bella ready for dinner?"
"Yes, Annie. She'll be right down. Why don't you come in for a second?"
"Okay."
Bella did not take too long to get downstairs. "Hi Annie. Thanks for inviting me to your birthday dinner." She hugged her cousin tightly.
"You're welcome. Come on, Mom and Grandma Helen are waiting in the car."
Anne hugged her daughter and her niece. "Have a great time girls. Happy Birthday Annie."
"Thanks Aunt Anne." Annie grabbed Bella's hand and they walked out the door together to the car.
Grace was happy to see her niece. "Hi Isabella, sweetheart. How are you?"
"I'm good Aunt Grace. Thanks so much for inviting me to dinner for Annie's birthday."
"You're welcome. We're going to have a wonderful time tonight."
The group of four arrived at the restaurant which was a Thai restaurant in the upper middle section of Queens. Thai was Annie's second favorite food besides Italian.
As they were eating their appetizers Grace looked at her niece. " How is school going Isabella?"
"Fine Aunt Grace. I really like all my classes especially social studies. I'm on debate team and on the swim team."
"That's great."
"How does Molly like 6th grade?" Isabella asked.
Grace smiled. "She had a rough adjustment to the middle school but she's doing better now. You'll have to come over for a sleepover soon so you can find out how she likes her classes."
"Sure Aunt Grace…. Maybe I can come over closer to her birthday and we can have a sleepover."
Annie smiled. "Yeah, you me Margaret and Molly should all have a sleepover in a couple weeks. Our cousin Kathryn is coming to visit from Chicago. We'll all have a swell time."
Grace couldn't be happier that Annie and Molly got along so well with all their cousins. She could tell many happy memories would surround them in the years ahead.
After they dropped Isabella at home and were headed back to the mansion Mrs. Pugh put her arms around Grace and Annie pulling them into a hug.
"You girls mean everything to me. I love you very much."
"We love you too Mama." Grace said kissing her surrogate mother on the cheek.
When the three women arrived home Oliver and Molly were waiting for them with a cake for Annie and presents.
"Mama, are you taking me out to dinner for my birthday?" Molly asked.
Grace scooped her youngest daughter up and ruffled her hair. "Yes, baby. You get to pick the restaurant."
Molly nuzzled in to her mother's neck.
Later that night after all the celebrating had worn down Grace came into Annie's room to tuck her into bed.
"Did you have a good time tonight?"
Annie nodded. "Yes! I sure did. Thanks to you and Grandma Helen so much for a wonderful celebration. Isabella told me on the way home that she had a great time too."
"We'll definitely be making this a tradition!" Grace smiled at her daughter.
"I love you and Grandma Helen and Daddy and Molly so much Mom."
"We all love you too my beautiful angel. You're such a special part of our lives."
Grace bent down and kissed her daughter's forehead.
"Good night Mom."
"Good night Annie."
Annie was already planning what kind of fun excursion they could take Molly on for her birthday which was on November 23rd. Since that was two days before Thanksgiving it would be perfect timing. Her cousin Kathryn would be flying in from Chicago that day at some point in the early afternoon then Isabella and Margaret would be coming over too. It would be one giant sleep over. The day after Halloween Annie asked to talk with mother privately.
"I know our new tradition involves letting us choose what we want to do for our birthday but I wanted to plan something special for Molly."
Grace grinned. "You're such a thoughtful big sister Annie. What did you have in mind?"
"Do you know when Aunt Jenn Kathryn and Jacob are flying in from Chicago?"
"They're arriving at around 1:45 on the 23rd why?"
"Perfect. I didn't want my plans to interfere with the holiday."
Grace loved the fact that Annie was planning something for her sister for her birthday. "What did you have in mind sweetheart?"
"Well, I wanted to have Isabella and Margaret over for a sleep over and we could all watch movies. Molly could pick whatever movies she wants to watch since it's her birthday. I think that would be so much fun since we haven't seen all three of them since the summer."
Grace smiled. "Were you planning to tell Molly about this or to surprise her?"
"I actually wanted to surprise her. Do you think it might be a better idea to tell her?"
Grace hugged her daughter tightly. "I'm sure that she'd be delighted so I'd say surprising her would be a good idea."
"Can we decorate the movie room for her?"
"I don't see why not. I can take you to the party supply store after school on the 20th how does that sound?"
"Super! Thanks Mom."
To set her plan in motion Annie first needed to call Margaret and Isabella to see if they were able to come over to sleepover two days before Thanksgiving. She called both of her cousins and told her plan and they agreed. She arranged with her aunts to have Isabella and Margaret be dropped off at 3:00 so that way all three of her cousins could help her decorate the movie room.
On the 23rd Annie was anxious for Jen Kathryn and Jacob to arrive. Molly Grace and Annie piled into the Dusenberg around 1:15 to drive to the airport to pick them up.
As it turned out their flight arrived about 10 minutes earlier than expected.
"Jenn! Kathryn! Jacob! Over here!" Grace called.
Grace embraced her sister, niece and nephew and then the three took turns hugging Annie and Molly. The group headed to the baggage claim. Grace saw Annie lean over and whisper in Kathryn's ear. Grace smiled knowing it was something related to the surprise they were planning for Molly's birthday. She knew her youngest daughter would be very pleased with what her older sister was planning for her.
Isabella and Margaret arrived at 3:00 on the nose and the four girls set to work immediately decorating the movie room. Mrs. Pugh was already busy cooking Molly's favorite dinner and dessert. Molly had absolutely no idea what her sister had planned for her. Annie had a feeling that Molly would love her surprise party.
Dinner started around 6:00. The cousins chatted and Grace asked her nieces how school was going. She was happy to hear that all three of them seemed to be having a good school year so far. After dinner was over Annie whispered something in Mrs. Pugh's ear. She nodded and gave Annie a squeeze.
Annie called over to her little sister. Her cousins joined her by the kitchen door.
"Molly, come here we have a surprise for you!"
Molly looked at her sister curiously. "Really a surprise… what is it?"
Grace grinned at her younger daughter. "Sweetheart if she told you it wouldn't be a surprise. Just follow your sister and cousins and you'll see."
The five girls walked down the long hallway to the movie room. Kathryn leading the way, followed by Isabella and Margaret. Annie followed behind them covering Molly's eyes.
"Annie, what are you doing? I can't see! " Molly said anxiously.
"I'll uncover your eyes when we get to the movie room." Annie said.
Once they got to the movie room Annie uncovered her sister's eyes.
Molly's mouth fell open in utter shock. The room was decorated with balloons, streamers and banner that said Happy 11th Birthday Molly."
"Annie, did you do this for me?" Molly asked looking at her sister.
"We all did." Annie said indicating her cousins were in on the plan too.
"Yeah Molly we wanted to do something special for you for your birthday." Isabella said.
Grace and Mrs. Pugh followed behind minutes later with the dessert and the plates, cups and lemonade. They put them on a table in the back of the movie room. After putting everything down Grace picked her younger daughter up.
"So what do you think of this party your sister planned for you?" Grace asked.
"Mommy, it's so great! But what are we going to do?"
Annie smiled at her sister. "After we have chocolate chip cookies and ice cream sundaes we're going to watch movies and you can pick whatever movies you want to watch."
"Wow, really? Thanks Annie what a fun party!"
Grace kissed her daughter's forehead. "Happy 11th Birthday baby girl. I love you so much."
Molly returned her mother's kiss. "I love you too Mommy. Let's eat dessert now!"
Grace and Mrs. Pugh left the girls alone after dessert to have a fun evening.
"Annie really is a wonderful girl." Mrs. Pugh remarked.
Grace nodded. "She truly is. She was so thoughtful to plan this party for Molly. I know Molly will have such a great time with all her cousins tonight."
"They have a wonderful mother you know." Mrs. Pugh rubbed Grace's back.
"I love you Mama."
Mrs. Pugh kissed the top of Grace's head. "I love you too, my beautiful Gracie Liz."
The 5 cousins had a wonderful sleepover that night and the night following. The morning of Thanksgiving Jenn and Grace were up early to help Mrs. Pugh with the dinner preperations. Gene, Anne and Eli and Jim Antoinette and Larry arrived around 12:30. Dinner was served at 1:45.
The Warbucks family certainly had a lot to be thankful for that Thanksgiving. Annie and Molly both for meeting their cousins and the memories they had made with them so far. Grace and Oliver for their wonderful family and how it grown over the past couple months and Helen for how close her and Grace had become and how close they'd forever stay. Grace was also thankful that both of her daughters were doing so well in school and that Molly had gotten over her shyness and had made a lot of friends.
Molly was also grateful for something else that Thanksgiving. The fact that she had such a great big sister who planned an amazing birthday party for her. She would remember her 11th birthday for many years to come.
Original Characters
Isabella and Eli Warbucks & Maragret and Larry Bennett Me
Jonathan and Patrick Warbucks Me They were mentioned briefly in this story but did not make any appearance. They will be in a future story.
Jenn Kathryn & Jacob Farrell Mandalicious.
I own NO characters from Annie. This was originally chapter 5 for Cousins. I have revised it and decided to use it for both stories. Thanks for reading and all the reviews for this story and please check out Cousins.