Chapter 9: Planning Jill's Slumber Party
One chilly first Saturday of March 2020, my mentor, Jenna's younger sister, Jill and I met my childhood friends Sarah, James, and Henri at one of Jill's best friends, Kate's house in Squirrel Hill. Jill's other best friends, Bailey, Eloise, and Lindsay, as well as Kate's younger sisters, Lily and Breona, were also there. "Hi, guys!" I greeted my friends. "Hi, Angel!" Sarah greeted back. The family was eating Chinese food for dinner and lemon squares for dessert. "I hope that you can all come to my Monkey Business sleepover on Monday night," Jill stated. "That means you three!" "We'll see," James stated. "It just depends on how tired we are during the day," Sarah agreed. "Now that Jill has sent out her invitations, why don't you guys tell me a little bit about yourselves?" Kate asked. "We want to get to know you better." "We work for Pittsburgh's Perfect Parties," I explained, "because in fact, we all are good at planning and hosting parties!" "Do you guys like the same activities that we like?" Henri asked. "Well, what all do you like?" Lily asked. "We like to play games and eat snacks," Henri replied. "Heck, I remember when Sarah was baby-sitting me and Angel and we did nothing but play card games and eat chips and pretzels while James was gone for his high school ski trip." "Yes, I was learning responsibility at a very young age," Sarah agreed. "Have you guys planned and hosted any real parties before?" Kate asked. "Absolutely," James replied. "I planned a back-to-school house party when I came back home from my high school ski trip, and there was music, dancing, and refreshments," James explained. "So, you really DO like working for Pittsburgh's Perfect Parties," Jill concluded. "We do, Jill," I agreed. "This Saturday internship is giving us a lot of extra money that I think I would like to save it up for a really nice apartment in Penn Hills called Alcoma on the Green," James told us. "They allow cats and small dogs, and they have everything from a gym to a swimming pool." "It's on the bus line, right?" I asked. "Of course," Sarah replied. "We don't want to live somewhere where there is no bus service." "Remember that Jenna can drive us sometimes, too, Angel," Jill reminded me. "And so can Sarah, James, and Henri," I added. "How does your job work?" Kate asked. "Well, first, there is initial planning of the slumber party during the first week of the project, where the guest list is planned, the date is chosen, preparing siblings, deciding on a theme, and planning the menu," James explained. "What if you guys were to host a slumber party?" Jill asked. "This is already my 4th time hosting one." "What Jill is asking is... what is your favorite slumber party theme if you were to host one?" I asked. "I bet you guys all know what my favorite slumber party is- the spa party," Sarah stated. "In fact, there was a Spa Night Sleepover in Oakmont last Saturday in which I helped out with manicures and pedicures, and the nail art contest, and also served chocolate-covered strawberries." "Cool," Kate remarked. "I would like a red carpet fun-themed slumber party, where I can watch an awards show and dress up in red carpet looks, as well as serve up appetizers along with sparkling water and juices in champagne flutes." "When Samantha met me back in October, she discovered that I liked a camping-themed slumber party," Lily explained. "With tents, hamburgers, hot dogs, s'mores, trail mix, spooky stories, white light stars... you name it!" "Those are all very nice ideas for slumber parties," James agreed, "but I would like to host a movie-night themed slumber party, where we can just sit and watch movies while eating some delicious snacks, like popcorn and pizza." "Maybe, you should host something like that on the first day you move into your new apartment in Penn Hills," I suggested to James. "Well, I would want to have a game night themed party," Henri stated. "What could be better than playing board games and snacking on fun food? Can we do something like that instead?" "We'll see, Henri," James replied. "Bailey, Eloise, and Lindsay, what are your favorite slumber party themes?" "I am up for a Cake Decorating Challenge," Lindsay stated. "I am up for an Olympic Games-themed slumber party," Bailey added. "And, I would like to throw a sports party," Eloise chimed in. "Wait, what about me?" Breona asked. "You didn't ask me?" "That's because you may be a little too young to host a slumber party," Sarah explained. "I am not little," Breona disagreed. "I am almost 6 years old, and I would like to throw a birthday-themed slumber party filled with party games and cupcakes." "Then, we help create and send out the invitations," James explained. "I would like to do that when we throw a movie-themed slumber party in Penn Hills." "I thought that we were playing board games," Henri contradicted. "No, we are watching movies." "Board games!" "Movies!" "Board games!" "Okay boys, that's enough," Sarah stopped, "unless you boys are up for hosting a spa party!" James and Henri groaned. "All right guys, let's move on to food, games, and activities," I suggested. Eloise's favorite game was Truth or Dare, Bailey's favorite activity was a Treasure Hunt, James's favorite game was Sleeping Bag Relay Races, Henri's favorite activity was a Pillow Fight, Sarah's favorite activity was Blindfolded Makeovers, Lindsay's favorite game was a Variation on Hot Potato, Lily's favorite activity was Pillowcase Art, Kate's favorite activity was Karaoke, and Breona's favorite activity was Picture Frames. Then, we all talked about our favorite foods to eat at slumber parties. Henri's favorite food was pizza, James's favorite food was s'mores, Breona's favorite food was make-your-own ice cream sundaes, Eloise's favorite food was potato chips and dip, Lindsay's favorite food was popcorn, Lily's favorite food was cookies, Bailey's favorite food was party mix or trail mix, Sarah's favorite food was fresh fruit and yogurt dip, Kate's favorite food was a veggie tray with dip, and then Jill showed us her very special cupcakes called Monkey Faces that she was going to serve at her Monkey Business sleepover. Then, we exchanged delicious slumber party recipes, including James's recipe for Indoor S'mores, Sarah's recipe for Fun Fruit Skewers, Kate's recipe for Honey Yogurt Fruit Dip, Henri's recipe for English Muffin Pizza, Eloise's recipe for Puppy Chow, and Bailey's recipe for Party Mix. Then, we talked about all of the different favors we received after shifts, including decorative eye masks, nail polish, Mad Libs and a pencil, microwave popcorn, movie theater style candy, toothbrushes, small flashlights, glow sticks, necklaces, or bracelets, a small purse filled with makeup samples, slippers, a CD of popular songs, pillowcases to decorate with fabric markers, and matching pajamas. "This is a very nice house, Kate," Sarah remarked. "Thanks, Sarah," Kate remarked. "We used to live in Squirrel Hill when we went to Carnegie Mellon University," Sarah explained, "and it was just a couple blocks down past the Blue Slide Playground!" "Right when Carly, Alex, and I were originally friends and before they ended up moving to Squirrel Hill, too," I added. "Also, this will be your second year since 2006 not living in the city of Pittsburgh!" Pretty soon, it was time for me and my friends to head back to our apartment in Forest Hills. "Thanks for a great evening, everyone!" I thanked my friends. "You're welcome, Angel," Sarah replied. "Bye, guys!" "Bye!"