Chapter 28: Friendship Increases

A week later after their run-in with Snakes, Red, and Bill, Eve and Fidget and Basil and Clover had a double date for lunch at a restaurant. They had spaghetti with breadsticks. For dessert, they had Red Velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. However, Hiram, Olivia, Andrew, Flappy, Shade, and Luna joined the double date and had spaghetti with breadsticks and Red Velvet cake with cream cheese frosting for dessert.

"Clover, this Red Velvet cake is good," Olivia said, eating her cake with her mouth slightly full, "Thank you." Then she chewed and swallowed.

"You're welcome," Clover told her with a giggle, watching her little sister eat, "After all, I recommended it for you."

"And I recommended it for Flappy and Mom and Dad," Eve added, also watching her little brother eat his slice of cake.

After lunch, the Flavershams returned to their toy shop, while Fidget with the bat family headed over to Eve's home and Basil and Dawson returned to Baker Street. In each of their doorsteps, they received letters from Snakes, Red, and Bill. The letters said:

Dear friends,

We are thankful for giving us a chance to be let in again. This week we earned the queen's trust, pleased with our sincere apologies that she invited us to a ball tomorrow night and we thought we'd invite you over, too.

Fidget, are you still flying? Because we're just checking on your well-being.

Dawson, were you the one who fixed Fidget's wing?

Eve, how is your family and your relationship with Fidget?

Basil, are you still solving cases, while keeping in touch with Clover?

Clover, how is your family?

We'd like to hear from you and we hope to see you soon.

Sincerely,

Red, Snakes, and Bill

P.S. we took turns writing the letter in each paragraph.

Each family read the letter carefully before replying, taking turns writing their own answers.

Clover's reply was: My family is doing wonderful. My father fixed his toy store with the help of Eve's father, Shade and my father is back in business.

Basil's reply was: Yes, Dawson and I still solve mysteries together and sometimes Clover comes along. So, you can say, I have been keeping in touch with her. Our mystery we solved was a missing boy in the woods and as soon as we found him, we reunited him with his mother. Clover solved that case with us.

Hiram wrote: I'm perfectly fine with Clover solving mysteries to stay in touch with Basil and Dawson after she announces the letters she receives from them before she goes. I let her go because she's a young lady now and she's all grown up. When she gets the case solved, she doesn't fail to surprise me and make me proud. Even so, I am always proud of her no matter what she does.

Clover responded: I couldn't be any happier to be out and about with Basil and Dawson to get some fresh air and have something to do. It felt nice without being cooped up in the house all the time.

Eve's reply was: My family is happy and healthy. Fidget has been flying ever since he got his wing fixed. I'm still having a good relationship with him, as well.

Fidget stated: It was good exercise and thanks to my doctors, I could fly again.

Dawson's statement was: Yes, but I didn't fix Fidget's wing alone; I worked with a team of doctors in the hospital.

At the end of the letters they've written, they each said: Yes, we'd like to go to the ball and we'll see you there.

The bat family and Fidget concluded: Sincerely, Eve and her family and Fidget

The Flavershams finished: Sincerely, Clover, Andrew, Olivia, and Hiram Flaversham

Basil and Dawson wrote: Sincerely, Basil and Dr. Dawson

When they were done, they each sent the letters to Red, Snakes, and Bill. They shared the letters and were happy to see their friends accept their invitation.

"They're going to the ball with us tomorrow night!" Bill shouted.

"Then we'll keep in touch with Fidget and the others," Snakes said.

"And keep doing good things," Red added.

…

The next evening, Clover was back in her rose-pink dress. Olivia was in her lilac dress again. Eve was wearing her green dress that she wore last time. Luna wore a yellow dress. Basil, Dawson, Hiram, Andrew, Flappy, Shade, Red, Snakes, and Bill were wearing tuxedos.

Seeing Basil and the others, Snakes said, "Hello, glad you could come."

"It was good to see you again," Basil told them.

"We're glad to have you back, guys," Fidget said.

"Fidget, Eve is beautiful," said Red.

"Thank you," Eve said, doing a curtsy.

"Clover's pretty, too," Bill said.

"Thank you," said Clover as she did a curtsy.

"Hi, guys!" Flappy shouted excitedly to Red, Snakes, and Bill.

"Hello, Flappy!" Bill said.

"We're at the ball again." Flappy raised his arms to get his point across. These gestures reminded them of their friend, Fidget, although Flappy wasn't related to the peg legged bat in any way, but nevertheless, Fidget and Flappy had lots in common. That was just how the youngest bat expressed himself.

Suddenly, music started to play and everyone began dancing. Basil danced with Clover like he'd done before. Flappy danced with Andrew and Olivia. Eve danced with her little brother after her family reunion last time. This time, Fidget offered her to dance with him and she accepted. Bill, Snakes, and Red watched in admiration to see couples, friends, and families dance. Just then, Fidget and Eve stopped dancing to move their heads to encourage the trio to dance with them. Seeing what the love bats meant, Snakes, Red, and Bill joined the dancers onto the dance floor. The trio enjoyed their dance with their friends very much.

Later, there was a feast, so the dancers took a break to eat dinner and dessert. After the feast, Eve was beginning to feel sweaty and warm. "I need some fresh air," she said and politely excused herself. "I'm roasting in here!"

Seeing his girlfriend run, Fidget said, "Me, too." Then he took off after her because he was starting to sweat and needed to be outside with her.

Eve was alone, but did not notice someone was after her at first.

"Eve!" a voice shouted.

She gasped and turned to her speaker. "Fidget? What are you doing out here?"

"I was sweaty and hot like you and I was worried about you," Fidget replied.

"Oh, Fidget, you do care!" Eve fawned and gave him a peck on the cheek, making him blush.

"Beautiful night, isn't it?" Fidget asked.

"It sure is."

Eve's boyfriend began to sing a song.

My dearest friend, if you don't mind,

I'd like to join you by your side,

Where we can gaze into the stars.

Then Eve sang along with him.

And sit together now and forever

For it is plain as anyone can see

We're simply meant to be.

The two bats kissed passionately and went back inside the castle.

"We're back," Eve told the other dancers.

"Eve and I needed fresh air," Fidget said.

"I don't blame you," said Basil, "Clover and I needed fresh air the last time we were at a ball just like you two."

"And Basil was my knight in shining armor," Clover added and winked at the bats.

A half-hour later, it was time to go home for bed, so everyone left Buckingham Palace.