Chapter 10: The Fireworks Party

Author's Note: I'm sorry that it took so long for me to update. I've had another case of Writer's Block along with some discouragement (not from any of you). Well...here's the semi-long awaited tenth chapter. Enjoy?

Disclaimer: I don't own Hamtaro or any of the other Ham-Hams.

Time sure flies. It had been a month since the death of the Ham-Ham's beloved friend, Oxnard. The funeral went by smoothly, and everything went as planned. Some had forgotten about that grey spotted hamster, while others still had good memories (some bad) stuck in their head. Nevertheless, they had all moved on. Except for Hamtaro.

It concerned Bijou with Hamtaro's current state. He seemed pretty empty; even quieter then he usually was. She had even seen him cry. She may have been the only still there that one cool evening but she heard sobbing. She had ventured over to where the sound led her to see Hamtaro; covered in tears.

He hadn't noticed her; which was probably a good thing. Hamtaro was really scary...and pretty strong. He was stronger than her; that was a fact. She had tip toed her way out of the clubhouse that evening and rushed back home; just in case she had been the slightest bit noticed.

The Ham-Hams were throwing their annual fireworks party. It had been a tradition since who knew how long? They would eat lots of good food and then watch the fireworks from a distance. Bijou had gotten there early to help decorate, along with Sandy and Pashmina. The place looked lovely, as they hung the lights around the outside picnic area.

"Hopefully the guys won't ruin it," Pashmina commented, sitting down at the table, and taking a break. "And hopefully they won't bring you know what."

The three girls were well aware of what the "you know what" was. The guys had the tendency to make the party wilder than it should; and the last thing the three wanted was a wild crazy party. They wanted something calm....and relaxing.

They set up the drinks they had brought (water, tea, coffee, and lemonade) along with the desserts they had made (cake, cupcakes, sunflower seeds, etc). They set the center piece on the food table and finished setting up for the party. The three sat back, and looked at the pinkish orange sky.

Everyone else would be coming soon, which meant more chaos. But now...it was calm; and peaceful. Just as the three stressed out girls liked it. There had been a lot of time and planning put into this party only because Bijou, Pashmina, and Sandy were the only three that had chosen to take any work into making the party happen.

Dexter and Howdy were the first (and only) to arrive. Howdy's eyes widen when he saw Pashmina.

"Told you I wasn't lying," Dexter muttered, as Howdy ventured over to Pashmina, with a rather stunned yet lovesick face.

"Pashy?" he asked, in his western accent. "Is that really ya?"

Pashmina nodded, taking a sip of her lemonade. "Why wouldn't it be?" she asked, letting out a yawn. She was exhausted.

"Wow..." he walked back to Dexter. "I wouldn't mind goin' on a date with her," he said, loud enough so Dexter could hear.

"Me either," Dexter said, not the slightest bit insulted, looking over at Pashmina and then back to Howdy. "You know," he said, blinking twice. "All of a sudden, I don't think we should get married."

Howdy nodded. "It disgusts Pashmina..." he said.

"It disgusts me in a way too," Dexter said. "I think we should just be friends..."

"Yeah, I think ya right." Howdy shook Dexter's paw. "Friends?"

"Friends...not lovers...ever again!" Dexter added.

The two walked back over to the girls and smiled. "We aren't getting married anymore," Dexter announced.

All three girls let out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness," Pashmina exclaimed, with a smile. "That was pretty disgusting you two." She said.

"So, wanna go on a date with me, Pashy?" Howdy asked.

"Ugh..." Pashmina said, narrowing her eyes. "I'll answer that later..."

"But wouldn't you like to go on a romantic stroll with me, my precious Pashmina?" Dexter asked, quickly picking a rose and giving it to her.

"I'll answer that one later as well, Dexter," Pashmina took the flower and put it behind her left ear.

Bijou looked around. "Where's everyone else?" she asked.

"Who knows?" Howdy asked, sitting down. "Probably better they didn't come. Now we can have Howdy's Comedy Hour!"

"NOO!" the four exclaimed, in disapproval.

"Ah, shoot!" Howdy exclaimed, walking over to the food table.

The others laughed. They looked over at the now dark night sky, and some of the stars that twinkled in it.

"Remember when we thought those were Diamonds of Sugar?" Pashmina asked, with a laugh.

"Yeah, you bet!" Sandy exclaimed, laughing as well. "We were so stupid then."

Bijou nodded. "You should of seen Howdy and Dexter trying to get Pashmina one..."

"And we could do it again too!" Howdy said. "But everyone knows I'd get Pashy one!"

"Oh contrary!" Dexter exclaimed. "I'd be the one to get her one. That is for certain."

"Wanna bet?" Howdy asked, getting up.

"We all like know Diamonds of Sugar are candy and totally not stars, you two," Sandy said.

"We aren't talking about getting Pashmina a Diamond of Sugar. We're talking about whose speed is better." Decxter stated.

"I could beat you anyday, Mr. Over Mannered," Howdy said.

"Oh so you think?" Dexter asked. "Well I'll prove you wrong!"

The Ham-Hams ran down the hill, in what they would call a "race". The three girls just watched and shook their heads.

"Well, at least the other guys aren't here," Pashmina said. "Espeically the wild ones."

The other two nodded. "Yeah," Sandy said. "All together I think this was a totally great party." She smiled. "Three cheers for us!"

Pashmina and Bijou laughed, and did their three little cheers.

"Look at all the leftovers we have!" Bijou said, with her eyes widen. "We could have another party all over!"

"All the guys ate was the cake and sunflower seeds," Pashmina achknowledged. "They didn't have much of that to start with."

"Watch out gals!" Sandy exclaimed, seeing Dexter and Howdy running towards them.

The two racing hamsters passed them, just barely missing Sandy. Sandy let out a sigh of relief. "Maybe we should move."

Bijou giggled and nodded. "Yeah, before they make us all go to the hospital." She said. Her smile turned to a frown, having a faint memory of Oxnard.

The other two frowned for a minute too. Not one of them had been to the hospital since Oxnard passed away. The minute soon ended as the three started laughing and giggling again.

The dark sky now started showing flashes of colorful light. It was time for the fireworks; each different and unique in their own way.

Dexter and Howdy stopped running and went back to the others, as the five watched the fireworks. No words were spoken then, as the hamster just watched with amazement. The fireworks were lovely, and they brought back old memories of when they first had the party.

Bijou sighed, thinking about Hamtaro back then. She wiped a tear, and then suddenly spotted a shooting beam of white light. She closed her eyes and made a wish. Some say that when you wish upon a shooting star that any wish would come true. Perhaps, just maybe, as Bijou thought, after making her wish, that that statement...would actually prove true.

Final Notes: Well, as for the Howdy and Dexter deciding not to get married part, I think it was pretty unrealistic (not to mention tacky). But I don't think I'd know how to go into details with it...(nor want to). Oh yeah, and the part when Sandy said: "We were so stupid then" I wanted to explain here. I put that in because whenever we look back at ourselves when we were younger we think: "Wow I can't believe I acted like that," or "Wow! I acted so dumb!". I just thought it'd make sense, and have a very small humorous twist. This chapter, all together, seemed a bit tacky to me (of course, all my writing seems tacky to me, for odd reasons). Anyway, these "Final Notes" (or should I say "Final Paragraph") are coming to a close. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and please review. I need some suggestions too, to what should happen next. Thanks so much for reading!