Chapter FIVE

The backyard looks amazing. There were red, white, and blue decorations everywhere. The new patio furniture was such a great accent to the backyard. Tony set up the adult beverages on one side of the backyard and the under 21 beverages on the other side of the backyard so no mistakes were made. The DJ/Emcee was in place and there was even an area set aside for dancing.

Sam and Jonathan set up all the games. Tony was grilling and Angela was setting the side dishes out on the buffet. Mona hadn't come down yet from her apartment, secretly knowing she's the guest of honor, and took it upon herself not to lift a finger. She did finally agree to greet all the guest upon arrival, and usher them to the backyard.

Mona didn't manage to get the story on what happened between Tony and Angela regarding the invite to the Bonfire. But she knew they were going because she saw Tony packing an extra basket for them when she entered the kitchen. Then when she went up to Angela's room to deliver the tickets, she overheard Angela humming, "Climb Every Mountain". Nah, couldn't have, Mona thought to herself.

Not before long, one by one, the guest began to arrive. Mona greeted them all and thanked them for coming. She told them to go through the back French door outside towards the festivities. Lucky for her, everyone was on time, except for Walter. Mona couldn't ask Eric where he was, because she wasn't supposed to know he was coming. Soon Walter arrived. Mona greeted him with a gigantic kiss and hug. He explained he was tardy because he needed to gas up for their drive to the airport. They then headed out back to join the rest of the gang.

The games being played were: Monopoly; Poker; Blackjack; Pictionary; Uno; Checkers; Dominos; Corn Hole; and Karaoke with the DJ in honor of Mona's birthday, as she loves games and music. Everyone was pretty much engaged with the food and beverages, games, and one another as the music was playing in the background. When Wendy wasn't running the Poker Table, she had Herb out in the dance area. Carol was exceptional at Checkers and Paul was dismissing everyone in Corn Hole. Mrs. Rossini was whizzing the kids in Uno as well. Al danced with Bonnie and Sam danced with Eric.

But Tony and Angela, seemed to be in a world of their own. They were talking to others and staying busy being the host, but they couldn't stop gazing at each other in-between. Every time one of them went in the house for something, the other one followed. Mona noticed their interaction, and couldn't help but wonder what was going on. But every time she'd go inside; she couldn't catch them doing anything, but task associated with hosting the gathering.

Soon it was time for the surprise champagne toast. Angela took the mic from the DJ and began to doat over her mother. She called for Sam and Jonathan, to each come and say something about Mona. Tony came out the kitchen door with the birthday cake, and two question mark sparkler candles. Through it all, Mona played along and looked surprised that her family and the guest were honoring her for her birthday. Even though she thought Angela was dragging the party, she felt so loved that she put in such an effort to honor her on her special day as well as their friends. She was very fond of all the lovely things Jonathan and Samantha had to say about her as well.

Angela offered if anyone else wanted to take the mic, but nobody did. Then Angela gave more final words going on and on, before Tony snatched the mic out of her hand and started singing the birthday song. Followed by the DJ playing, Stevie Wonder's, "Happy Birthday to Ya".

Mona jumped up in glee, grabbing Jonathan, and went for the dance floor. Her joy could have been because Angela was no longer talking and dragging the party, or just that it was her birthday, or both. Eventually, everyone got up and danced. Walter cut in and replaced Jonathan as Mona's dance partner. Tony whizzed Angela round the backyard a few times, sneaking a few grabs of her butt, before they went inside to get the ice cream to go with the birthday cake Tony baked for the occasion. The two of them continued to serve the dessert and gaze deeply at each other.

By this time, Mrs. Rossini caught wind of what was taking place between them. She inched her way to Mona and asked, "So Mona, what's the deal with these two? They can't take their eyes off each other. Am I missing something?"

"Carmella, I can't figure it out myself. Something happened between them, I just don't know what. Let's not say anything or alert anyone. If we let on, we know, they'll get self-conscious and awkward and revert to their lame and lifeless level of interacting with each other. We're all cutting out of here early, so don't you and Al hang too late. Leave these two to themselves as early as you can," Mona said winking at Mrs. Rossini.

"You're right Mona. I've seen them do that before. I'll just go back over here to the Uno table and keep watching them out the corner of my eye. Don't worry, I know how to make myself scarce. And I'll make sure Alfonse does too," she teased, winking at Mona.

Then the DJ announced that it was karaoke time. He called for Mona to join him at the mic to pick the first song and perform it. Mona being the vivacious woman that she was, wanted to pick something that would wow the guest and would embarrass Angela at the same time. She went through the DJ's catalog; she finally selected her song. The DJ paused and looked at Mona, as if to say, are you sure? Mona, winked at him, and said, "Let's get this party started!"

Suddenly you hear a soft rock intro filled with drums and guitar, followed by Mona singing with a very sensual and sultry sway, while staring deeply into Walter's eyes, "I love myself; I want you to love me. When I feel down; I want you above me. I search myself; I want you to find me. I forget myself; I want you to remind me. I don't want anybody else. When I think about you, I touch myself. Oh, I don't want anybody else. Oh no, oh no, oh no."

Walter sits back in pure pleasure and amusement, with a handsome grin across his face, as it appears that Mona is serenading him. While most of the other guest, have their mouths dropped wide open, unable to speak, but just giggle. Well except Wendy and Al, who are standing up, and cheering Mona on. The kids: Jonathan, Steven, Bonnie, Sam, and Eric are in awe and amazement at Mona and Walter's interaction with the lyrics of this song.

Tony is standing behind a mortified Angela, who's hands are covering her cheeks filled with crimson. She's speechless and angry as some of her closest friends are present. Tony is not shocked, but at a loss for a quick reaction to regain control of the environment. As Mona's R rated birthday karaoke performance is hilarious, it's still inappropriate, as there are kids present; and more than the two that live there. Not to mention how devastated he can see Angela is in her mother's poor choice of music and gyrating, considering Jack and Carol, and the neighbor kids are present. To snap Angela out of the moment, Tony leans up to Angela's ear and whispers, "Tonight, you won't be touching yourself, that will be my job!"

Angela is now completely stunned. She turns and looks at Tony, who's standing there staring at her with a boyish grin. Usually, his grin melts her fears into a smile, but this time she turns pale, white with fright. Tony puts down, the plates he was holding, and grabs Angela and drags her out to the dance area. He thought some cardio dancing would be good for her color and to lighten the mood that she's moved into based on Mona's celebrating.

Tony leans into her ear and whispers, "If you go with the flow, it won't last long and it won't hurt so bad. You're taking the sting out of your mother's gratification of embarrassing you."

Angela thought about what he said as Tony continued to drag her along dancing as Mona kept singing and gyrating. She realized Tony was right, so she smiled and nodded and began to engage in dancing with him to Mona singing explicit lyrics. Soon everyone else follows them to the dancing area. Mrs. Rossini sits back in full observation of Tony and Angela from the time Tony started whispering in her ear. She smiles with satisfaction as it seems Tony is happy with Angela and Angela happy with Tony, beyond employment.

Mona is now rounding the second verse and Walter is up clapping, dancing, and whistling at her. And the children are high-fiving each other as they view the adults and their PG-13 rated fun.

"Hey Sam. Ask Bonnie if she'd like to tag along tonight? My cousin who is our age is coming. He's from out of town, but I thought it might be nice for them to meet and hang out," Eric said.

"Great idea Eric. Then maybe I can come home and spend the night at Bonnie's instead of coming back here," she said.

"Hey Bonnie. Eric just said his cousin is here from out of town. Would you like to call your parents and see if you can join us tonight for the festivities? And if they say yes, find out if I can spend the night at your house, when we get back," Sam said.

"Heck yeah," Bonnie said. "Thanks for inviting me Sam and Eric," she said. "I'll go call them now," said Bonnie.

Bonnie left to go in the house to see if her parents said everything was a go. Meanwhile Sam and Eric joined the adults on the dance floor. Tony wasn't comfortable with Sam and Eric dancing to this song, at least not in his presence, so he walked over to them and gave a stern Italian fatherly look. They both smiled back at him and danced their way back to the picnic table. Angela laughed at Tony and discreetly went inside the house with an empty tray. Tony grabbed Mrs. R and spun her around the dance floor since Angela went inside. While Angela was inside, she overheard Bonnie on the phone asking her parents' permission to go with Sam and Eric and for Sam to spend the night.

"It's kismet," Angela whispered in shock.

"Bonnie came through the swinging kitchen door and encountered Angela. "Mrs. Bower, this is a swinging afternoon barbeque. And this day couldn't have gotten better if I tried to make it," she said with a huge smile on her face, heading back out the kitchen door.

"You can say that again Bonnie, you can say that again," said Angela.

Snap Crackle Pop! Chapter FIVE