Chapter 5: Recipe Card Invitations
One hot first Saturday of June 2021, I met up with my childhood friends Sarah, James, and Henri at Pittsburgh's Perfect Parties client Lauren Bennett's house in Cheswick. "Hi, guys!" I greeted my friends. "Hi, Angel!" Sarah greeted back. We ate waffles for breakfast. Lauren was making her Recipe Card invitations to her Food Fest Sleepover in 2 weeks. "I remember the last really good Childhood Chat we had when you attended Self-Care Camp Week the same week as us," James pointed out. "That's right," Lauren happily remembered. "I had a bonfire in Bloomfield, went bowling in Brighton Heights, broke open a pinata in East Liberty, had a squirt gun battle in Lawrenceville, and made a fake snowman in Washington's Landing." "I wanted to go to the Three Rivers Arts Festival today," Henri glumly stated. "We have to go at least ONE day this week!" "Well, I have a very special surprise for after our work shift today," James told us. "Oh boy," I happily stated. "What is it?" "Well, Shady Side Academy is having their annual picnic at Sandcastle Water Park this afternoon, and I was wondering if you guys would like to go," James offered. "Absolutely!" I happily exclaimed. "It would be fun!" "I also thought that it was a nice surprise to listen to Maroon 5 on the way down," Sarah stated. "Are we still going to listen to Santana on the way to Sandcastle?" I asked. "If you would like," Sarah told me. "Of course," I happily agreed. "And best of all, I already know what foods I want to eat, games I want to play, and activities I want to do," Lauren stated. "Well, you can tell us at Sandcastle, okay?" I asked. After Lauren was done making her invitations, she delivered them to her 4 guests Emily, Fiona, India, and Juliet. After our work shift was over, we headed over to Sandcastle Water Park. We spent most of our day by the wave pool. "I can't believe our babies are growing up," I stated. "Let's hope that they have learned everything we taught them about throwing parties and that they do not make any stupid mistakes like we did as teenagers," Sarah stated. "Like when I snuck into Molly's Sweet 16 party in middle school." "You and Angel both did," James pointed out. "I guess that we just couldn't wait for high school," I remembered. "Do you think that these girls will be too old for trick-or-treating?" Henri asked. "Some of them will be, Henri," James stated. "I remember how much I loved handing out candy to younger kids as a teenager." "Let's hope that these fine young ladies practice everything that we have taught them about parties, whether they are guests or the hostesses," Sarah pointed out. Lauren then came up to us with her friends. "Did you guys want to know what we will be doing at our Food Fest Sleepover?" "Well, we plan to make pizza, cookies, and chocolate fondue," India told us." "We are going to have a Taste Test with pudding, a Food Face-Off with salads and sandwiches, and a Recipe Scavenger Hunt for spaghetti and meatballs," Fiona continued. "For activities, we are going to make a Friendship Cookbook, watch the food movie Ratatouille, and start the evening off with making our own aprons," Juliet stated. "Just so you guys and girls know, I am one month away from being a teenager," Emily happily stated. "Holy cow!" I exclaimed. "Emily will be 13 years old. Now, one of our babies is really growing up." "I still wish that we could go to the Three Rivers Arts Festival," Henri glumly stated. "Well, I spoke with Mrs. Ellis and she said that if we don't get to go to the Arts Festival this week, she will let us go next Saturday as long as we agree to help her go grocery shopping another day," James happily stated. "All right!" we happily cheered. For dinner, we ate fried chicken and for dessert, we ate ice cream. After our day at Sandcastle, James and Henri drove Sarah and me back to our condominium in Squirrel Hill. "Thanks for a great day, everyone!" I thanked my friends. "You're welcome, Angel," Sarah replied. "Good night, guys!" "Good night!"