Chapter 14

One hour and fifteen minutes had passed since Lee's exit from the party. Having taken longer than expected to return, the kids were getting restless. Fortunately, May, Marie and Lindsay had received Tabby's message. The girls happily left to help Lee with whatever she needed.

"Man, it's been forever since Lee left," Eddy said impatiently. "Did she drown in there or what?"

"Patience, Eddy," Double Dee attempted to placate his friend. "As I recall, Lee wasn't exactly eager to have a party in the first place. She probably wanted to change into something more appropriate for this momentous occasion!"

"Rolf is eagerly awaiting his Sweet Babushka to return from assisting the redheaded Kanker girl. He can't wait to dance with his beautiful Schmeloctin!" Rolf exclaimed excitedly.

"Geez Rolf," Eddy said to his foreign friend, "Maybe it wasn't a good idea to invite everyone after all!"

Elsewhere, the other kids were talking amongst themselves, oblivious to Rod's droning lecture.

"Well, the night's not a total loss. At least the food's good!" Kevin remarked.

"Kevin!" Nazz lectured her boyfriend. "We came here to wish Lee a happy birthday, dude!"

"That ain't easy when the birthday girl ain't nowhere to be found!" Kevin retorted.

"I sure hope Citizen Lee is okay," remarked Jonny. "Perhaps she was abducted by pirates or aliens. If true, Captain Melonhead and Harlequin Honeydew shall rescue her!"

"Dude, I'm staying out of this one!" Nazz retorted. "I'm hanging up my boots!"

"Eddy!" Sarah yelled. "Tell your stupid girlfriend to get out her now, or I'll kick your ass! Me and Jimmy want to party!"

Despite Eddy's newfound physique (a result of his ballet training with Lee), he knew it was no match for Sarah's ungovernable paroxisms of rage. He prayed silently for his girlfriend to return.

As if in answer to Eddy's prayers, Lindsay arrived to address the party, with May and Marie following behind.

"Attention, everyone!" Lindsay addressed the crowd. "We are proud to present tonight, Miss Annalee Kanker!"

Following Lindsay's declaration, Lee stepped out to face the crowd gathered on her behalf. Upon seeing the beautiful birthday girl, the crowd gasped, oohed and aahed. Eddy's jaw dropped upon seeing Lee. She had chosen to wear the emerald green ball gown she wore at the Winter Ball a few weeks before. Lindsay had styled Lee's hair into loose waves, while Marie and May did Lee's makeup (at Lee's insistence, her freckles remained untouched). One important difference, however, was that Lee was wearing a pair of silver hoop earrings (Lindsay's birthday present to Lee). The naturally beautiful redhead looked absolutely stunning.

"Annalee, you look absolutely beautiful!" a proud Rod told his daughter.

"Thanks, Daddy!" Lee smiled at her father.

Tabby finally returned to the party.

"Oh, Annalee in a ball gown-I gotta get a picture!" Tabby exclaimed as she held up her phone to take the shot.

"Mom, put that thing away!" an embarrassed Lee said through her teeth.

"Oh, come on, Annalee," Tabby chided. "Just let me get one more picture of you and your sisters!"

"Alright, just stop embarrassing me!" Lee said impatiently.

Tabby called out to May and Marie, whereupon the two girls joined their sister in a group photo. In a rare moment, Lee hugged Marie tightly, the sisters' cheeks touching. May was hugging her sisters from the opposite side. After Tabby took the picture, May and Marie went back to join their boyfriends.

Following this, Eddy approached his girlfriend. Despite the fact that he and Lee had been dating for almost a year, he still occasionally got nervous around a pretty girl. Accordingly, he began to sweat and stammer, making Lee giggle. However, Eddy managed to find enough courage to make a simple statement.

"Happy birthday, babe," Eddy said once again. "I love you."

"Thanks, Eddy," Lee gratefully replied. "I love you too!"

"Alright, everybody!" Tabby called out, making her way to the stereo conveniently located outside. "What's a party without music? Let's have a party!"

Following her declaration, Tabby turned on the stereo, after which music poured out from the speakers rigged up on both sides of the double doors leading to the Kankers's backyard.

"Shall we dance?" Eddy asked Lee, holding out his hand.

"Let's kick it!" Lee replied.

Seeing her sister dance with Eddy, Marie turned to her boyfriend.

"Let's go, Oven Mitt!" Marie exclaimed as she grabbed Double Dee by the hand.

"I suppose I have no choice!" Double Dee replied.

"Let's join in the fun, Big Ed!" an enthusiastic May called out to her boyfriend, her silver heels clicking with each step.

"Sure thing, Little May!" Ed replied as he and May began to dance.

The other party attendees joined in the festivities: Lindsay reluctantly agreed to share a dance with Rolf, Sarah and Jimmy danced together happily, and Nazz decided to dance with Jonny, much to Kevin's ire.

As the kids danced the night away, Rod and Tabby shared a private moment.

"I can't believe our girls are growing up, Tab," Rod remarked.

"Yeah," Tabby replied. "I can't believe how far they've come since last year! Especially Lee, I almost didn't recognize her!"

Tabby excused herself to smoke another cigarette. In this private moment, she took a look at the photo she had taken of her beautiful daughters. Tabby then reached in the pocket of her blue jeans for an old photograph. Upon seeing the picture, a small tear formed in her right eye.

Rod saw his wife and developed an expression of concern.

"What's wrong, Hun?" Rod asked Tabby.

"Oh, nothing," the heavyset woman replied. "It's just I'm so happy for our daughters!"

The two decided to watch proudly as their daughters and their friends happily danced and conversed before Rod eventually asked his wife to dance; Tabby happily accepted. This was a party everyone would remember for years to come.

The End