Chapter 5: Spa Night Invitations
One cold first Saturday of February 2022, I met up with my childhood friends Sarah, James, and Henri at Pittsburgh's Perfect Parties client Abigail Mifflin's house in Fox Chapel. "Hi, guys!" I greeted my friends. "Hi, Angel!" Sarah greeted back. We all had beer to drink. Abigail was making her Spa Night invitations out of nail polish bottles. "A little birdie tells me that you and Angel have been spending a lot of time with the Sobert sisters in the past month, Abigail," James stated. "Yes, we have, James," Abigail replied. "We hung out last Saturday, too, but Angel wasn't invited." "So, what made you choose the spa for a theme, Abigail?" Sarah asked. "I have just become girlier over the past year, Sarah," Abigail explained. "And, a spa is a nice, relaxing way to refresh yourself during the winter season!" "That reminds me," James stated. "Your birthday is coming up next Friday. Do you want to do anything in the South Hills office to celebrate?" "Depending on my schedule, I will try to be there," I stated. "My schedule at work got changed recently due to another girl being hired before me who was on leave at the time." "Oh, okay," Sarah stated. "We still love hearing the music of Santana every weekend," Henri pointed out. "That is not exactly soothing music," I stated. "But, your choice of a slumber party is better than any of the parties that we have attended in the past as kids." "Yeah, who could forget Molly's Sweet 16 party when you girls weren't invited, but you snuck out anyway?" James asked. "That party was still a lot of fun, though, James," Sarah contradicted. "Just think, we got free pizza and cake!" "I want to talk about Halloween when I helped James hand out candy for the first time," Henri stated. "I was a cute Power Ranger!" "Why don't we talk about Valentine's Day, since that is the holiday coming up?" Abigail asked. "I am going to go on a special date with Jacob to Zone 28, and we are going to go bowling together, eat dinner, and then play some games in the arcade." "That sounds like fun," Sarah stated. "I am hoping that I get to hang out with you guys a few more times this month, especially since I got to talk with my aunt in Rochester, New York earlier this week. The Sobert sisters must have told her that we were spending time together," I continued. "But tonight, we have Game Day at the office in Monroeville." "Wow, your invitations are the same as in previous years," Sarah pointed out. "I have noticed a pattern of us working with a 7th grade girl these past 3 years," I added. "3 years ago, it was Hannah Mifflin with her Sweet Swap, then 2 years ago, it was Isabella Black with her Spa Night Sleepover, and last year, it was Zoe Meanor with her Spa Night Sleepover." "You are absolutely right, Angel," Sarah told me. "I was just thinking of that, too." We then helped Abigail deliver the invitations to her 4 guests Jessica, Nicole, Victoria, and Emma and then headed off to the Pittsburgh's Perfect Parties office in Monroeville for Game Day where we met up with some of our other best friends Alex Russo, Justin Evans, Max Greenwald, Carly Shay, Spencer Puckett, along with Carly's stepfather, Freddie Benson. We listened to our favorite music of Santana, NSYNC, and 98 Degrees. Carly, Spencer, and Mr. Benson only played one game with us, and that was the obstacle course game. They wanted to go speak with one of Abigail's guests, Jessica about her experience with spring and summer activities at 16 years old in the city of Pittsburgh, only this time at her house in Lower Burrell. Alex, Justin, and Max played the rest of the games with us, including Scrabble, Flashlight Tag, Saran Wrap Prize Ball, and Nail Polish Spin the Bottle. Then, Sarah, James, and Henri dropped me off at my mentor, Jenna Moser and her sister, Jill's apartment in Highland Park. "Thanks for a great day, everyone!" I thanked my friends. "You're welcome, Angel," Sarah replied. "Bye, guys!" "Bye!"