Soon Alex starts squirming. As she opens her eyes she is being licked by her yellow lab, Gretchen. Gretchen heard her thrashing on her bed and came over to investigate. She figured she'd better wake Alex up.
As Alex awakes and sees Gretchen's concerned look, she happily hugs her dog's neck.
"It was all a DREAM Gretchen!! All a dream!" Gretchen continues to lick Alex's face.
Alex looks out her window and she sees Killer chasing Muffin, but Muffin is too clever for him! She darts up a tree while Killer jumps up and down fruitlessly below. Alex smiles.
Alex gets up, dresses quickly and runs downstairs. Her Mom is in the kitchen making breakfast. She is dressed like she normally is. She says, "Good morning, dear! Sleep well?"
"Yes, Mommy. How are you this morning?"
"Fine, dear! How's pancakes sound for breakfast?"
"AWESOME!", says Alex with emphasis, as she gives her Mom a big hug. Carmen is confused, but figures "enjoy it while you can. Your daughter doesn't hug you often anymore!"
Alex happily eats breakfast, making sure she slips a plain pancake to a grateful Gretchen when Mom isn't looking. She talks happily with her Mom.
"My, you ARE in a good mood this morning, dear!"
As Alex finishes her breakfast, she gives her Mom a big hug and kiss. "Everything is great today!" and grabs her backpack . She starts to walk to school.
On her way, she sees Muffin has treed a squirrel and walks triumphantly toward her home. Alex's smile grows bigger!
On arriving at school, Alex decides to get some juice from the cafeteria. Soon her turn comes up in line. "What would you like?" asks Mrs. Merkel.
"I'll take a bottle of orange juice, please" , replies Alex. "By the way Mrs. Merkel, what's on the menu this morning?"
"The usual. Pancakes, scrambled eggs, toast, breakfast sausage, bacon, and cereal. Would you like something else?"
"No, thank you, Mrs. Merkel! Have a GREAT day!!" says Alex with enthusiasm. Mrs. Merkel smiles. Now there goes a peppy student!
Alex opens her bottled juice on the knoll and waits for her friends. Soon she sees Clover. Clover is wearing a sky blue halter-top with dark green pants and pumps to match. She sees Mandy approaching Clover. Mandy is wearing a white tube top under a white blouse tied at the waist, with white pants and pumps.
"So, Clover! Can't make up your mind between being up in the air or on the ground? HAAAA HAAAAA!"
"Oh, Mandy! I didn't know you were trying out for the television role of Mr. Clean!", replies Clover sweetly. Mandy stomps off. Alex smiles.
"Hi, Alex! How are you today? You seem unusually happy this morning!"
"Well, Clover. So far today is just PERFECT!"
"Wow! Whatever you had for breakfast must have totally agreed with you!"
Soon Sam walks to the knoll. Sam is wearing a soft pink dress with puff shoulders and full skirt. She is wearing soft pink pumps.
"Hi, gals!"
"Hi, Sam. New outfit?" asks Clover.
"Hi, Sammy! You look GREAT!" says Alex.
"No, Clover. I just haven't worn this dress since we were sentenced to 'trash duty' by 'Judge Mandy'. But that was so long ago, I thought I'd break it out again!
"Gee, Alex! You sure are peppy this morning! You remind me of Julie the Travel Agent on our fake Hawaii vacation!" says Sam.
"That's okay, Sammy! I'll tell you guys why I'm so happy when we go home tonight!"
As they are talking, David walks by. "Hi, gals!" he says friendily.
"Hi, David!" all three respond dreamily.
Then Clover asks, "David, are you going to the dance tonight?"
"Sure am! I'll be going with the guys! How about you?"
"Oh, we'll be there! Make sure you save a dance for me!" says Clover.
"Sure Clover. I'll save a dance for each of you! Bye now!" says David as he walks away. Alex is really smiling now, as are Sam and Clover.
Soon the girls start to walk to class, when they get WOOHP'd by a moving sidewalk. Clover and Sam let out a "Whoaaaaa!" but Alex is smiling a big smile as they land on their circular landing cushion. Jerry is sitting behind his desk, facing the screen behind him.
"Hello, ladies! I trust that was a moving experience!" Clover and Sam groan, but Alex's smile just gets bigger.
But then Jerry turns to face the girls. He is not wearing a suit and tie! He is wearing black jogger sweats and running shoes! His hair is uncombed! As he turns, a picture of a circus bigtop appears on his screen.
Alex's smile disappears and is replaced with a look of horror!
"OHHH NOOOO! You're not destroying MY perfect day!" she says as she quickly runs out of Jerry's office.
Jerry, Sam and Clover watch confusedly, as Alex leaves in haste.
"What got into HER?" asks Sam.
"I don't know! She's been acting strange all morning!" says Clover.
"Why would an offer to see the Bigtop Circus free evoke such a reaction? I wanted to give each of you a free pass!"
"Maybe it's your outfit, Jer!" says Clover.
"I realize I don't have on my suit, but I was on my way for recertification in karate down at the gym, when the offer came in! I didn't even have time to re-comb my hair!"
Sam, Clover and Jerry shrug their shoulders. Jerry gives each gal a free pass, but will hold Alex's to give to someone else. Everyone usually loves a circus! Jerry guesses Alex is one of the few people who not only dislike them, but actually hates them! He'll make a note in her personnel file not to offer circus passes or tickets to her again. He doesn't want to insult her!