Chapter 6: Food Fest Activities
One hot second 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 cobb salad for lunch. "We already know what all will be happening next Saturday, but can you remind us, anyway?" I asked. "Well, for food, we are going to make pizza, cookies, and chocolate fondues, for games, we are going to play Food Face-Off with deli cold cuts, cheese, and salad, Recipe Scavenger Hunt for spaghetti and meatballs, and Taste Test for pudding cups, and for additional activities, we will decorate our own aprons, watch food movie Ratatouille, and make a Friendship Cookbook," Lauren reminded us. "We were just saying how all of you have really grown up last week at the Sandcastle picnic," Sarah pointed out. "I know you're only 12 years old, but do you have an interest in boys?" "I somewhat do," Lauren replied. "I think that you're cute, James!" "Why thank you, Lauren!" James happily replied. "I wish that more women my age would think of me as cute since I am not married." "What are you talking about?" Lauren asked. "I had a temporary girlfriend named Sybil back in high school, but we never really dated or anything." "I remember you were so worried about your school picture that you just hid in bed all day," I told my male friend. "But, I was here to help you get through it." "And, I helped you that same day, Sarah," Henri remembered. "Yes, you did, and you were a big help, too," Sarah pointed out. "Just remember that it is always good to look nice for School Picture Day." "So, what do you say?" I asked. "Ready to go shopping?" "Absolutely!" Lauren exclaimed. We then headed to Target in Monroeville for everything we needed for Lauren's slumber party. Sarah and I helped shop for ingredients to bake chocolate chip cookies, as well as salad and sandwich fixings for the Food Face-Off. James helped shop for ingredients and snacks for the chocolate fondue, as well as pudding cups and other materials for the Taste Test game, and materials to make a Friendship Cookbook. Henri helped shop for various ingredients to make pizza with, as well as spaghetti and meatballs for the Recipe Scavenger Hunt, and plain aprons, along with art supplies, to decorate. After our shift was over, we traveled to Mount Lebanon to talk with recent Shady Side Academy graduate Julia Robison about her playing soccer back in spring camp of April 2015. We found out that the same year, she was on the cover of the April/May issue of tween girl magazine Discovery Girls, along with three other girls named Jane, Celeste, and Julia's best friend, Sasha. "So, the spring camp was almost like a little celebration of you girls being famous," I stated. "I wish that I could see those issues from your time because our client, Lauren Bennett is 12 years old," Sarah stated. "It would be nice if we got to visit Washington's Landing or somewhere else in the city of Pittsburgh since Lauren attended Self-Care Camp Week the same week as us," James pointed out. "I still wish that we could attend the Three Rivers Arts Festival," Henri stated. "Well, I am going to the Three Rivers Arts Festival if you guys want to come with me," Julia pointed out. "Yes, we absolutely would love to!" Henri exclaimed. "Well then, let's go!" I happily exclaimed. "Did you tell Julia about summer camp in Swissvale this week, James?" Sarah asked at the Three Rivers Arts Festival. "Oh yeah, we began going in the middle of the week when it was '80s-themed, then we had a cooking theme on Thursday, and a camping theme yesterday," James stated. "We got to eat my favorite slumber party treat- s'mores!" "You mentioned about taking a cooking class in Mount Lebanon at the end of April, right?" Lauren asked. "Yes, and that is our theme for this month," Sarah pointed out. "We baked Rice Krispies treats that day," Henri stated, licking his lips. "Yum!" "Thanks for bringing us to the Arts Festival, James," I thanked my male friend. "You're welcome, Angel!" James replied. "Carlos Santana needs to perform at the Three Rivers Arts Festival like we listen to every weekend in the car." "We'll see about that," Sarah told me. After the Three Rivers Arts Festival was over, it was time for all of us to leave. "Thanks for a great day, everyone!" I thanked my friends. "You're welcome, Angel," Sarah replied. "Good night, guys!" "Good night!"