Phillip and Martin walked the streets of their wonderful city, laughing and joking around with each other with Stella, Phillip's younger sister, walking behind the two with less excitement.

"I don't see why dad made me come here," she began, her arms crossed and her feet dragging along, "I don't know the kid! He's your friend, Phil, not mine! My friends are at Rudy's house, having fun!"

"Stop complaining," Phillip said with a frown. "We need to be there for him."

"Man, as much as I hate to admit that your sister's right, but your sister is right!" Martin told him. "This party will be a drag, dude! Even my mom allowed me not to go. My mom, man!"

"Come on guys, I'm sure it'll be better than we think," explained Phillip, trying to give an encouraging smile. "I mean, its Art... Isn't he the funnest guy we know?"

"If he's the funnest guy we know, then we don't know a lot of people," Martin replied as they walked up the steps to a small house.

Phillip knocked on the door and encouraged his friend and sister to show some enthusiasm. A tall, slender opened the door. She wore a small smile, that was easily recognized as a fake smile, and her eyes were puffy, she'd obviously been crying.

"..Hello, Mrs. Horowitz," Phillip greeted.

"Hello, Phil... Marty," she said, inviting them inside, "and Stella, what a wonderful surprise."

"If I'm not welcome, I'll be more than happy to leave," Stella announced, walking back to the door. "Sorry for the intrusion. I'll just be going now."

"Nonsense," Sheena spoke, stopping Stella from leaving the house, "you are more than welcome to stay. The more the merrier!" She led them into the living room, party decorations and a big sign that said: HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARTHUR! hung on the walls. "In fact, I think Art really needs this... You know, considering what's going on with our family..." She frowned, looking away from the kids.

"Well," Phillip clapped his hands, looking for a happier subject to talk about, "the house sure looks great for the party! You did a wonderful job with the this... really." Martin coughed awkwardly.

"Hey, guys!" Said a voice from behind them. They turned to see Art. "Glad you could make it! I was thinking no one was going to come."

"What," Martin said in a high-pitched voice, "that's crazy, man! Who wouldn't want to come to your party?"

"Us," mumbled Stella.

"Actually, quite a lot of people, Phillip," Art replied with a frown. "I'm just not as popular as you and Marty."

Martin gave his friend an awkward look before Phillip spoke again. "I'm sure that's not true... People tend to get busy on Sunday afternoons."

"Yeah... I guess you're right," he said. "Thanks for coming, you guys."

"Why don't you get started on those party activities you were so enthusiastic about," said Mrs. Horowitz.

After a long and awkward hour and a half playing games like pin the tail on the donkey and weird games like that, Phillip, Martin and Stella seemed to have enough. They all decided to make an excuse to get out of the party early.

"Don't you want to stay for cake?" Art asked with a hopeful smile. "My dad finally agreed to come back to the house, just because it's my birthday. He'll be here with the cake," he looked down at his wrist watch, "any minute, actually."

"Oh... Well," Phillip began, but Stella nudged him.

"I say we stay and see if his lover comes by too," she whispered in her brother's ear.

"Yeah... I want to see what this dude looks like," whispered Marty in his other ear.

"Sure, Art, we'll stay."

They waited for about fifteen minutes until a small, ginger man came walking in. He was holding a large cake carefully as he walked to his son.

"Dad!"

"Hey... Art," the man spoke. "How's the birthday boy?"

"He's fine... now that you're here," his son replied, hugging him.

"Oh, did you already give the birthday boy his cake," said a voice with a lisp. In came a man wearing bright green skinny jeans and a pink button down shirt that was only half buttoned, revealing his chest.

Art must of been so distracted by this man, that when he began to walk back, he tripped on his shoe lace and began to fall backwards. Somehow his father also lost balance(probably trying to prevent his son from falling) and he too began to fall in the same direction. They hit the ground with a splat, chocolate cake all over Art, and tears streaming down his face.

"Oh, dearie, like father like son," giggled the strange man.

Stella just stared at the strange man in shock as Phillip helped Art and his father up off the ground.

"Uh... Art, this is... this is.."

"Mitchel Rose," he introduced, holding out a newly manicured hand. "You can call me Mitchie! So glad to finally meet you, Art. You're all your daddy talks about!"

Art gave an awkward smile before running up to his room.

"Can we go now?" Asked Stella.

"I think that's best," Art's father said, picking up pieces of cake off the floor. "Thank you for coming."

"Tell Art we had a really good time and... that we'll see him at school," Phillip said as they walked to the door.

"It was lovely meeting you, Mitch," Stella nodded at the strange man, who gave her a broad smile and a fancy wave.

They quickly exited the house and walked home in silence.

"I liked him," Stella finally said, breaking the silence. "He seems like a fun guy, once you get past the super tight jeans and chest hair!"

"Well Art didn't seem too fond with him," her brother replied.

"It's all new, man," his friend announced. "He needs to get use to this new lifestyle before he can accept it, that's all."

"Yeah... I guess you're right," he let out a sigh as they continued to walk home.