Chapter 5: The Christmas Party
The next day, I met up with Sarah, James, and Henri, as well as some of my other best friends, Alex Russo, Justin Evans, and Max Greenwald at their house in Squirrel Hill for Alex's annual Christmas party after eating breakfast at Eat n' Park in Squirrel Hill and shopping for a Christmas card and gift for Alex. "Hi, guys!" I greeted my friends. "Hi, Angel!" Sarah greeted back. "Merry Christmas, Alex," I wished my other female best friend. "Merry Christmas to you too, Angel," Alex wished me back. "I have a present for you guys." Alex gave me a DVD of her favorite movies and TV shows: Apollo 13, Forrest Gump, and episodes of Cheers. "Thanks, Alex," I thanked Alex. "I can't wait to watch these." Alex opened her Christmas card and gift from me. "Wow, it's a gift card from Target!" Alex exclaimed. "Thank you, Angel!" "You're welcome, Alex," I replied. Christmas music was playing in the background. There was lots of food to eat at the party. Besides the cobb salad, potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and smiley cookies from Eat n' Park that Sarah, James, and Henri bought, there were lots of other types of food to be served, such as cold cut and cheese sandwiches, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, holiday-shaped Goldfish crackers, veggie sticks, chips, crackers with cheese and pepperoni, fried chicken, candy canes, and a lot more various Christmas cookies- even a Christmas tree-shaped cake! Alex, Justin, and Max also ordered pizza from Mineo's, their favorite pizza restaurant in Squirrel Hill. Sarah gave Alex and me our presents. "Wait until Christmas to open them, please," Sarah instructed us. "We will," I agreed. "I feel so happy today, Alex," Sarah told Alex. "That's good, Sarah," Alex agreed. "I always love celebrating the holidays with you." "And, I think that we should do something extra-special for Angel's birthday next year," Sarah stated. "Can we go to Station Square and maybe split an ice cream sundae?" "Yes, just like we did one year on my birthday?" I asked. "I'll look into it," Alex agreed. "That is a fun thing to do." "Why are you hosting your party at your house this year, Alex?" Sarah asked. "Well, Sarah," Alex explained, "the Stephen Foster Community Center was getting too expensive for us to host the party at, so we decided to host our Christmas party at home this year for free. Besides, it would be easier for you guys to get to from where you live." "I see," Sarah agreed. James and Justin decided to play Mario Kart on the Wii together. "I always love that gingerbread house you give me every year, Justin," James remarked. "I am so glad, James," Justin agreed. "I love my iTunes gift card from you. I will purchase something good with it." James played as Mario and Justin played as baby Mario. "I didn't know you had a Wii at your house, Justin," James stated. "Well, we do," Justin pointed out. Henri and Max went upstairs to their bedroom, looking for gifts to exchange with each other. "What do you have in here to share with me, Max?" Henri asked. "Not really much, Henri," Max replied. "Here, you can have this bookmark I made." "And, I will give you my old pencil holder," Max stated. They went back downstairs and noticed Alex and Justin playing a Mario Kart game together on the Wii. "I think this Christmas party is just as fun as when we reunited in downtown Pittsburgh and Kennywood Park the summer before Angel went off to college," Alex remembered. Alex and Justin even shared a kiss together before I took my turn to play on the Wii. Alex had even more games for us to play at the party. One of them was Mad Libs. We had a choice of either "Snowman" or "Snowstorm" Mad Libs. I chose "Snowman" Mad Libs. There was even Jenga for us to play. After the Christmas party was over, Sarah, James, and Henri drove me back to my mom's apartment in Highland Park. "Thanks for a great day, everyone!" I thanked my friends. "You're welcome, Angel," Sarah replied. "Bye, guys!" "Bye!"