Music was blaring from the speakers, food was set out in the kitchen for anybody, but at the moment everyone was dancing. They were in the living room; they had moved all the furniture out of the way.
"Hey, Theo, great party!!" said a girl from one of Theo's classes.
"Yo Theo," said Jake. "This might just be claimed 'party of the year'. I mean, there are people here we don't even know."
"Yeah," said Theo. "I wonder how they found out?"
"You know the way things happen," Dan said. "You tell somebody to pass the word, they tell their friends. Then their friends pass the word, and it just keeps going."
"Wow!" said Theo. "It's a good thing we've only been planning the party since this morning. Or else probably the whole state of New York would be here."
Dan, Jake, and Michael all laughed. Then got back into the party; dancing.
About an hour later... The party got more intense by the minute. People kept showing up, and showing up ... They turned up the music, and turned up the speed so they could have a contest for who could dance the fastest - to an already fast tune. They were all having fun messing around, when Vanessa opened the door, and walked in with Rudy.
Theo was surprised by the fact that neither of them looked surprised. He could see their lips moving, but the music was so loud he couldn't tell what they were saying. He decided to go over and find out.
"What are you guys doing here?" he asked them. "You're supposed to be down the street at Jen and Christine's sleepover." (Jen and Christine were two sisters; Jen was Vanessa's age, and Christine was Rudy's).
Vanessa shook her head, "Their parents called it off. Nobody could hear anything over the music."
"What music?" Theo asked.
Vanessa looked amazed and rolled her eyes, pointing around the room.
"Oh," Theo muttered. "It's not that loud?"
"Yes it is," Rudy told him. "You can hear it down the block, and farther."
Theo remained silent. "Okay, we'll turn the music down. But will you guys promise not to tell mom and dad about this party?"
"You mean they don't know!" Vanessa exclaimed. Then she turned to Rudy, "I'm surprised they can't hear it where they're at." Rudy nodded.
"If you promise, you can stay," Theo offered.
Vanessa shrugged. "I don't want to stay. That'd just get us in trouble, too. But I won't tell, 'cause then you'll owe me a favor."
Theo just stared at her, "Fine. Go upstairs then."
They both went upstairs, while Theo turned down the music - but not much.
After another half hour, Theo decided it was time to start getting all these people out. He unexpectedly turned off the music. He then walked over to the kitchen, and told everyone in there to come in here. When everyone was in the living room, he climbed half-way up the stairs, so he could make sure everyone heard him. Then he said, "Okay everybody. I'm sorry for this rush, but you all need to go home. The party's over. It was fun, maybe we can all have another party sometime --"
Everybody cheered. "But for now. Please ..." he gestured toward the door. "And quickly, I need to get this place cleaned up."
After a few protests, everybody quickly filed out.
Theo remembered that every summer, the 'party of the year' got mentioned in the paper. With a little detail of what went on. But he wasn't worried. This party was too short to be 'party of the year'. And if it WAS good enough, it was only a small article on the backside. His dad wouldn't notice it.
Okay, Theo thought. Mom and dad said they would be gone for two hours. 1 1/2 for the movie, and 1/2 to eat. The party's been going for 1 1/2 hours. So I have a whole half hour. That shouldn't be too hard. He looked around the room. Then again...
~~~~~
The next morning, Theo was worried Vanessa and Rudy might spill it. But they didn't say a word. It was still early, and Theo went out to get the town paper. He was bringing it in to his dad, when he noticed the headline:
Huxtable Party, 'Party Of The Year'