Chapter 29

January 20th, 2310

Michelle came downstairs in the hallway were two officers were standing with Holliday, Riley, Tiifu, Morwenna, Kasha, Shari, Dorothy and Beth.

The only one who wasn't there was Giselle.

"Why did we get called down here?" asked Michelle.

"The queen wants to see us" explained Holliday.

Just then Giselle arrived.

"Good," said one officer. "Their all here."

"To the throne room ladies" added the other.

The two officers escorted the girls to the throne room, Dinette and Elaine were in the throne room waiting for them. Dinette was sitting on her throne and Elaine was standing next to her.

"Thank you, officers," said Dinette. "You may go now."

"Ladies," she said to the girls after the officers left. "Elaine and I have decided it's time for the first event of the elite. The event where we test if the future queen can host a party."

The girls all looked excited.

"The royal family of Italy will be coming on the 24th," instructed Dinette. "And the president of Botswana will be coming on the 25th. Beth, Giselle, Kasha, Morwenna and Dorothy, you will be hosting the party for Italy. And Michelle, Holliday, Riley, Tiifu and Shari will be hosting the party for Botswana."

Michelle felt happy that her group had an advantage, they got an extra day to prepare.

"I can't believe we're having a party for an African country," said Shari. "But I'm so nervous. I mean Illea has been allies with normally European countries and the royal family of Illea has never done any party for Africa."

"Don't worry," said Holliday. "We have Tiifu in our group. She's African descendant, so she probably knows how to have a party for Africans."

"My daddy did tell me a lot about Africa," said Tiifu. "About symbols in colors, animals and nature, food and parties."

Michelle was glad they had Tiifu here to help them make an African party.

That afternoon, the group who was planning Italy's party was doing it in the library, so Michelle's group were in her room.

"Okay," said Tiifu. "I've had a lot of good ideas to plan a party for the president of Botswana. We can't have any of the flowers or decorations in red, because in African culture red symbolizes sacrifice and bloodshed and we want this party to be happy. So, I thought we could have colors in blue because it represents harmony, or black because it represents spiritual energy or maroon because it represents healing."

"Those are great ideas Tiifu," said Shari. "I thought we could get table clothes to resemble an African savannah.

"Oh yes, that is a good idea," agreed Tiifu. "And just wait till you see the surprise I've ordered."

On the day of the party for Italy, the royal family stood in the grand hallway with the elite. Count Neilson and the quartet were there too.

"Presenting," announced an officer. "King Angelo IV, queen Cat, and the royal offspring."

Entering the palace were a man in a black suit and short dark brown hair. Next to him was a woman with short golden girls and a white gown with thin vertical red stripes. Gathered around them was a young man in his early twenties with dark brown hair and a navy-blue suit, a girl in her teens with golden hair and wearing a turquoise gown. A boy about Marcella's age with golden hair and a blue-gray suit and the queen was holding a baby basket with a baby girl in.

"Ah, Taylor," said king Angelo. "It's so nice to see you again! You remember my wife Cat, don't you?"

"Hard to forget a queen as beautiful as mine" retorted Taylor.

"Allow me to introduce my children to the elite," said Cat. "This is our crown prince, Francesco. Our oldest daughter Arabella. Our youngest son Daniele," she then held up the basket. "And this is our new born daughter Charlene."

The girls couldn't help but sigh in the cuteness of the baby.

Giselle, Beth, Dorothy, Kasha and Morwenna stepped up and escorted everyone out to the garden.

The garden was decorated with red, white, and green striped table clothes and there was all kinds of Italian pastries and gelato.

Michelle saw Marcella sitting with prince Daniele, and she and James walked over to them.

"So you're the princess's fiancé" retorted Michelle.

"Talking about you're wedding already" added James.

"That's not gonna happen you two" huffed Daniele.

"Never ever" added Marcella.

"We're just friends," defended Daniele. "And besides, she's afraid of birds."

"And he's never used a crossbow" added Marcella.

"I tried once" retorted Daniele.

"We're never getting married James" declared Marcella.

It was a very great party, though the only flaw that happened was Emily (who as usual liked hanging out with royalty) was talking to the royal family, she was wearing a hat with feathers and one of the feathers poked king Angelo in the eye.

King Angelo was alright, but his eye was all red and soar for the rest of the day and Michelle had to keep herself from laughing at Emily who was quite embarrassed.

The next day, when Michelle met her friends in the garden to put the final touches on the party for Botswana, Tiifu came up with a box.

"You'll never guess what my maids helped me order for the party" she said.

She opened the box and pulled out matching African sundresses, but in different colors, she handed a purple one to Michelle, a pink one to Holliday, a lilac colored one to Riley, a turquoise one with lavender swirls to Shari and a marigold one for herself.

"Their lovely Tiifu" said Shari.

Michelle was speechless, for an eight, Tiifu Fordyce was a very organized girl.

That afternoon when it was time for the president to arrive, Michelle and her group where waiting with the rest of the palace household in their African dresses.

Emily saw them in their African clothes and made snide remarks.

"Look at the clothes they were in Africa girls," retorted Emily. "They must be as poor as eights there. Can't believe they still dress like they did centuries ago. Or that a two like Holliday Wade would get talked into wearing them or working with rednecks."

"Don't sound like you're a racist in front of the president Emily," scolded Tiffany. "I think the colors are beautiful."

The trumpets went off again like they did the day before and an officer once again stood up the announce the arrival.

"Presenting, the president of Botswana, Numbi Obereobi and her father Chidindu Obereobi."

A beautiful, young, African American woman walked in wearing a cream-colored dress, a dark purple jacket, and a sash in the pattern of the Botswana flag. Next to her was an elderly man in a black suit.

"Pleasure for you to come president Obereobi" said king Taylor.

"Just call me Numbi" replied Numbi.

Michelle's group led everyone out to the garden. The decorations were black, maroon, and green. The vases were full of blue flowers. And there were platters of African doughnuts.

A little later, Tiifu lead Michelle and the other girls in an African dance. Others joined in.

Emily, Suzanne, and Harper watched with haughty looks.

"I can't believe their enjoying this party" huffed Emily.

Harper than noticed something.

"Where's Tiffany?" she asked.

They then saw that Tiffany was participating in the dancing and looked like she was having a good time!

Emily was speechless and fumed off.

That night Michelle was in her room alone, reading.

When suddenly she heard a knock on her bedroom door.

She walked over to the door and unlocked it and to her surprise, Tiffany was standing there.

"Tiffany?" asked Michelle.

"Michelle," said Tiffany in a soft, kind voice. "The party you held today was… great."

"You'd have to tell that to Tiifu," retorted Michelle though remained cautious to see if the quartet wasn't trying to play a trick on her again. "She did most of the planning."

Tiffany hugged Michelle.

"I wish I had a friend like you" she said before she quickly left.

Michelle was surprised but felt flattered by Tiffany's kindness.

Author's note; sorry that took so long, kind of took longer than I planned to write this chapter, but Tiffany was so nice to Michelle, she seems to be the less mean of the quartet doesn't she? Poor Emily, at the Italian party, she really caused a scene didn't see? Lol.