Chapter 4: Manchester, Ohio

September 22,2002

Bella rushed around the large area that was the location

for her 28th birthday party. (Actually, it was also Felicity's 14th birthday) The party was

the next day and Bella was in a panic making sure everything was right.

" Ok, now the DJ table is going to be on that end, the buffet table near that tree, and

the dinner tables in the center. Oh no! If the tables are in the center of the area where then

where the heck are is the dance floor? Oh, now I'm completely confused. Oh my God! I

forgot to order the cake. Felicity, FELICITY!" Bella looked around frantically for her y

younger sister who, being more responsible and logical than Bella, was in charge of

ordering things and making sure everything was booked. But, as usual, Felicity had gone

off somewhere and was nowhere to be found.

"Merrie! Pip! Anyone?" Bella sighed.

In the woods near the party field, Lissie was busy Iming her best friend, Samuel Gangerman.

She had her headphones on and didn't hear her sister screaming like mad for her a couple of yards away. Sam lived a few streets away from her in a nice house. Mr. Gangerman was their gardener and Sam often helped his father out so Felicity saw him almost every dad except for Saturdays and Sundays. The Gangermans were very proper and even though it was really old fashioned, Sam still called her Miss Felicity, even though Lissie had told him a million times her name was Lissie. It was probably a European thing. The Gangermans had finally gotten a computer after they saw that school work was better done with a computer than by hand and the internet was needed to do research. But even until a few days ago, when Sam was able to buy his own second hand computer, they never spoke online because Mr. and Mrs. Gangerman had a rule that the internet was only used for school work. Sam had managed to work so hard that he had made enough money to buy his own computer and since it came with 3 years free internet, he could use his any time. Lissie heard a horn beep in the distance. She jumped up, put her laptop in it's carrying case and ran towards the road. Sure enough, parked on the side, was a nice, white lexus convertible and sitting in the driver's seat was Maurice Istari. (Yes, Gandalf has a lexus. Remember, he's rich)

" Hello Lissie. I heard your sister screaming for you down the road as I was driving to your house. Since it was obvious that you were proably listening to your walkman as teens do these days, I volunteered to go look for you. Now, hop in. From the way you're sister was screaming, I think you had better get there as fast as you can."

" Oh! Is she alright?" Felicity said getting in the passenger seat.

" Yes, she's fine. I couldn't make out what she was saying. Something about a party, her memory, where the heck is my sister, and forgetting to order a cake. Don't forget to buckle your seatbelt." Felicity gasped.

" Oh, no! The cake! I knew there was something I forgot! Can I use your cell? If I don't call the bakery now, my sister won't have a cake tomorrow! Though, I wouldn't be surprised at all if everyone bought there own cake. Everyone in the whole darn town knows that Bella can't remember where she left her car keys let alone book a DJ, rent chairs and tables, book caterers AND order the right amount of food, write a guest list, send out invitations, get RSVPs, buy enough party favors, and on top of all that order her own cake." Maurice turned his head to look at her.

" Well, thank goodness she has you then to do that for her." Felicity took the phone away from here ear.

" Oh, no, I didn't do all that by myself. I would have gone crazy. Sam, Merrie, and Pip helped. Do you have a pen and paper?" Maurice pointed to the glove compartment.

" Merrie and Pip?" Felicity wrote down the number of the bakery, thanked the operator, hung up and started to dial the number.

" Oh, right! You only met Sam. Merrie and Pip are my other two friends. Meredith Bennett and Patrick O'Toole. They're really nice, Merrie's really cool and she's into all this fashion stuff and Pip's just likes to eat a lot. But then again, he is a 12 year old boy. Yes, hello, I would like to order a cake for Bella Baggins' birthday. Oh Mr. Gangerman already ordered one? Oh and Mrs. O'Toole? And Meredith Bennett? Oh alright then, thank you very much. Bye." Lissie hung up the phone. " See what did I tell you? Oh well, we're probably going to need three cakes, half of Manchester has been invited. I don't even know that many people. Sometimes I think that Bella just invites people off the street, though that wouldn't surprise me." They passed a small farm.

"You know, Lissie, you are probably one of the most responsible teenagers I know, and I know quite a lot. Like this friend of mine has a daughter, about you're age maybe a year or two older, who always fights with everyone. Nice girl, but quite the hot head. And then there's this family down south with two girls. The younger girl is 14 like you, and the older one is 17. The younger girl is nice and very, very smart. But the older one, is a bit crazy. She can have a million dollars and spend it all in one day. Then there is this German family, very decent people with three children, two of which are in a situation like your own. Lovely, lovely people with responsible grown up children. And of course my best friend's daughter is the most honorable girl I know, very smart, but she is going through a phase which might not be good you see. Oh well, here we are Lissie. You're sister is frantic, I see. Go on, get out and set her worries to rest."