I.
Dr. Anne Possibles' wide smile left when she heard the front door slam shut, followed by half audible imprecations. She could follow her daughter's progress by the stomping footsteps and progressively more audible curses. Anne stepped out of her kitchen to see Kim placing a foot on the first step up to her loft bedroom.
"Kimberley! Tell me I did not hear you say what I think I heard you say."
A blazing red face turned toward her, "Mom? What are you doing home? I mean…"
"Kim! Do not evade the question."
"Ah…Mom….uh,.what do you think you didn't hear? Because, ah, y'know, I really don't know what you didn't hear if you don't tell me what I didn't say, right?"
Anne's' eyebrows rose, "Kim, I know you and Ronald have become closer than ever in these last months, but maybe you need a separation if you are going to start talking like him." She maintained her stern demeanor with difficulty, "I know 'anything's possible for a Possible', but if you get any redder you will be the first documented case of spontaneous combustion."
She turned back to her kitchen to hide her quivering smile, "Now come in here and tell me what the matter is."
Kim turned to follow her mother, inching into the kitchen to stand beside the table. Her blushing face turned pale as she wondered what her punishment would be. Neither of her parents tolerated improper language from their children.
"Mom, I am really sorry. Please don't cancel my party, I promise I won't do it again, please."
Anne had finally gained control. "And you thought no one could hear you so you did not bother to control yourself. Kimmie, you know it does not matter if someone can hear you or not, that kind of language just…."
"I'm really, really sorry."
Looking at her daughter's remorseful, anxious face Anne could not hold her laughter any longer. "Kim," she chortled, "I believe you, but what happened to get you so tweaked?"
'Can this day get any wore,' Kim thought, dumbfounded,'first that, that…and now my own mother plays me? I so don't need this.'
"Kimmie," Anne twinkled at her," would you like something to drink while you are editing what to tell me?"
"Milk, please, and I don't edit what I…" Kim remembered her mother had gone on a mission with her, "uh, well, in a way, Mom, it's really embarrassing, could I edit just a bit, please."
"Sit down and drink your milk while you think about it."
"I'd really rather…"
"SIT!"
Automatically, Kim sat, and even more quickly, bounced back up, managing to stop her hand from reaching for her bottom. Her mother stared at her, astonished.
"Honey, you were injured on this mission. Why didn't you tell me?"
Anne saw that Kim was once again blushing furiously.
"Mom! Really, I wasn't injured or wounded. I would really just rather stand." Kim's eyes were looking anywhere but at her mother.
"Kimberly Anne Possible! You will either tell me what happened or I will call Wade and have him show me the security tapes."
"Security tapes? THE SECURITY CAMERAS! OMIGAWD!"
"Don't you dare run out on me, young lady, Kim, Kiiiiiim?"
II.
She eased the door open and crept silently across the large living room. Both the van and station wagon were gone; hopefully, she was safe for a few hours. She thought longingly of a hot shower and her nice soft bed, only seconds away. She eased up the stairs and into her loft. As her head cleared the loft floor, the blood drained from her face.
"Explanation, now!" A stern mother was sitting on her bed.
"How did you… I mean…"
"Your father's still at the lab, the shop picked my car up for its tune up. Now, no more stalling. I want to know what's going on."
"This will go no further, especially not Daddy?"
Anne was beginning to be worried, "Only if absolutely necessary, I promise."
Kim pulled out her desk chair, "Ok, but would you please pass me one of my pillows?"
III.
Everybody agreed that the party rocked. The cheer squad and their boyfriends were present, even Bonnie had been polite. Felix, Monique, and Ned had shown up, Wade was present via Wade-bot, furnishing tunes on demand. There were only three stains on Kim's enjoyment. Ron was unable to be present, Wade had been unable to find any clues to the morning's thief, and every time her eyes met her mother's, Kim would blush and Anne would turn away stifling a giggle.
Kim had neglected to mention to her mother that her pants had been down when she received her 'injury'. Her twice gritted "It's not that funny," did nothing but increase her mother's hilarity. You would think no one had ever received a birthday spanking before.
She eased from guest to guest, assuring their welcome while politely refusing to dance as Ron was absent, insuring that the soft, cushiony chair she had picked out to receive her presents from stayed empty.
When the party momentarily quieted, Monique called, "C'mon, girlfriend, time to open the presents! I want to see what the BF got you."
Kim allowed only a small wince to cross her face as she sat in 'not as soft as she thought' chair. The next half hour was a frenzy of torn paper and broken ribbons. Kim had tried to open the presents gently, but her friends wouldn't allow that. The only gift she was allowed to treat softly was Ron's. He had given her a lovely gold locket containing the lithographs of their ancestors Jon and Mim. The rest of the presents were nice but anticlimactic. Finally, there was only present left, a gaily wrapped, small, rectangular box.
"Whose is this," Monique asked, "there's no card?"
No one claimed it.
Monique sat close on the arm of Kim's' chair. "Well, come on, rip it, GF."
Kim ripped the paper off and slid the top off the box, to sit, shocked speechless.
Monique leaned closer, "Soothing Balm?"
XXXXXXX
I hope those who read, and even more those who reviewed enjoyed this. Next up: "The Birthday Booty Basher" revealed and 'rewarded?'