Chapter 4: Planning Abigail's Birthday Party
One seasonably chilly first Saturday of February 2020, my childhood friends Sarah, James, and Henri met me at my mentor, Jenna and her sister, Jill's apartment in Point Breeze. The oldest Mifflin daughter, Abigail, and her best friends from high school, Nicole, Jessica, Victoria, and Emma also joined in the discussion group. We got offered beverages of soda and juice to drink. "Hi, guys!" I greeted my friends. "Hi, Angel!" Sarah greeted back. "How have you girls been?" James asked. "We haven't seen you since we helped out with your Paint Party last summer." "Yeah, how is college going?" Henri asked. "Most of us like college," Abigail replied. "We know that you attend Chatham University, Abigail," Sarah stated. "But, what colleges do the rest of you girls attend?" "I attend Pitt," Nicole replied. "I attend CCAC Boyce Campus," Jessica replied. "I attend Carlow University," Victoria replied. "And, I attend Carnegie Mellon University," Emma replied. "When you girls attended high school, did you deal with the same problems that we dealt with as teenagers?" James asked. "Like how to ask a boy out on your first date?" "When has this happened to you, James?" Abigail asked. "When I was a sophomore in high school, I asked a girl named Betsy Radcliffe out to the school dance," James explained. "As a matter of fact, I know most of the songs in the playlist, which I assume is for your birthday." "Yes, James," Abigail replied. "My birthday is coming up in 10 days. I will be turning 19 years old." "I attended Boy Scouts, so I didn't really know much about dating back then," Henri pointed out. "How about schoolwork?" Sarah asked. "Is it harder or easier in college?" "It is much harder in college," Nicole pointed out. "However, I was named Valedictorian of Shady Side Academy." "I was Valedictorian of my high school, too," Sarah agreed. "But, even Valedictorians have bad luck in school, sometimes." "Oh yeah," Nicole agreed. "One time, a boy in my class took advantage of me while studying and cheated off of my test." "That's what happened to me back in 8th grade," Sarah explained. "A boy named Nathan was guilty for cheating off of my history exam, and he blamed me for cheating. Unfortunately, Nathan ended up getting detention not just for cheating, but for lying, as well." "Oh, dear," Nicole replied. "I heard that all 3 of you used to attend Carnegie Mellon University," Emma pointed out. "That is where I go to college now, too." "I attend college in Monroeville near where you guys work," Jessica pointed out. "Hey, what about my college?" Victoria asked. "It is also located on the Parkway East next to CMU and Pitt." "Okay guys, enough with the college talk," I redirected. "Now that Abigail has made her invitations and sent them out to her guests, we should have another discussion group on our experiences with slumber parties." I paused for a moment. "I have never hosted or thrown a slumber party before growing up, even though I am an expert on them," I admitted to all my friends. "All I know is that I need to wear comfy clothes for a slumber party, especially with all the cute pajamas I have in my drawers. One game that I would not like to play at a slumber party is Truth or Dare, because it is a very personal game and it can make people feel uncomfortable. If I were to play the game, I would prefer Truth with age-appropriate questions in order to get to know one another better." "I have always served either pancakes or French toast at my slumber parties," Abigail explained, "but I would like to eat waffles at one of my slumber parties, but keep the turkey sausage on the side since it is healthy and filled with protein. I also feel like me and my guests should take quizzes at breakfast on our personalities, rather than when we showed off our art at breakfast last year and suggested books at breakfast time." "How about you, Nicole?" I asked. "What are some of your favorite activities to do at slumber parties?" "Since I am a girly-girl, I love to get manicures and pedicures," Nicole told us. "Check out my latest manicure!" Nicole then held out her fingernails, which were painted in the style of a French manicure. "Nice," Sarah remarked. "Thanks," Nicole replied. "I also love to watch YouTube videos at slumber parties, especially beauty tutorials and I am also a huge fan of your YouTube channel." "Why don't you join one of us?" I asked. "Me, Sarah, Carly, and Alex love beauty tutorials, and we all support each other when we are having a hard time at work or any time on a daily basis." "I'm only 18 years old, though," Nicole pointed out. "That's adult age, legally," I pointed out. The classic Kelis song "Milkshake" was playing in the background. "I remember this song being played at the high school dance," James remarked. "I love listening to music at a slumber party, and I have a number of awesome themes for a birthday party to celebrate Abigail's birthday party next Saturday! We can vote for which theme is the best at the end." "I have a good memory from the Bookworm Blast that Abigail threw at the beginning of the school year," Emma told us. "What is that, Emma?" Henri asked. "When I went home to go to bed after all the fun, I discovered that all the power went out from a thunderstorm that night, and I had to go to sleep in total darkness that night," Emma explained. "Do you have a favorite slumber party treat, Emma?" I asked. "I loved the Bookworm Sandwiches, made out of lunch meats like bologna and salami, and cheese, and mustard, and they were topped with one of my favorite types of candy- gummy worms," Emma explained. "I also enjoyed dressing up as Bella from Twilight that evening." "I felt bad that we couldn't help out with that," I pointed out. "We talked about finding a job for Sarah, James, and Henri that was closer to where they live than Creative Citizens Studio. Little did they know a month later that they would be working for Pittsburgh's Perfect Parties in Monroeville!" Sarah also showed us a selfie of herself in her red pajama set from last weekend at Hailey's Traditional Sleepover Party. "This was taken after we went back to the hotel in Harmarville," Sarah explained. "I wore something a little bit similar the night before the big exam when I was studying just before bed." "I wore nice pajamas that night, as well," I agreed. "Like I said, I own so many cute pairs of pajamas in my drawer!" "Since I am the mischievous younger brother, my favorite slumber party activities include classic, fun activities like pillow fights and telling silly stories," Henri explained. "Which I don't even remember any slumber parties during our Boy Scouts meetings." "At least, I am not all that rebellious like you are, Henri," Jessica explained. "My least favorite movie to watch at a sleepover is the scary movie, since they frighten me. However, at least I have my stuffed animal, Callie the Caterpillar to help me when I feel scared at a sleepover." "Sort of like how Mia used to have Casey the Cat at her sleepovers," I remembered. "And, you also drew a picture of a butterfly at the Paint Party, which caterpillars turn themselves into!" "Well, here is what my wheelie bag, aka my overnight bag, looks like," Victoria showed all of us. Her wheelie bag was camouflage with large wheels on the front. "So, James, I hear that you like to eat chocolate sprinkle doughnuts for breakfast," Victoria continued, "and that is my favorite kind of doughnut, too! They just taste so yummy!" Victoria licked her lips. After we finished our discussion group, we voted for a theme for Abigail's birthday party next Saturday, and we voted for the Cookie Party, which we decided to turn into a dessert party, instead. Pretty soon, it was time for my friends to leave. "Thanks for a great evening, everyone!" I thanked my friends. "You're welcome, Angel," Sarah replied. "Bye, guys!" "Bye!"