Chapter 5: Christmas Invitations
One unseasonably mild first Saturday of December 2022, I met up with my childhood friends Sarah, James, and Henri, as well as some of my other best friends, Carly Shay and Spencer Puckett, along with Carly's stepfather, Freddie Benson at Pittsburgh's Perfect Parties client Lauren Bennett's house in Cheswick. "Hi, guys!" I greeted my friends. "Hi, Angel!" Sarah greeted back. Lauren was making her invitations to her Christmas Sleepover in 2 weeks. While jamming out to Kate Bush, Sarah, James, Henri, and I composed a Childhood Chat in which Brooke Leesaw discussed watching YouTube videos in 8th grade in downtown Pittsburgh, Jessica Linden discussed having a party with a Glass Center theme in 6th grade in East Liberty, Allison Brawner discussed baking cookies in 8th grade in the North Side, Elizabeth Mosh discussed sporting her new nightgown in 11th grade in Oakland, Kaitlyn and Colleen Marioni discussed playing with their new stuffed animals in 7th grade in Shadyside, and Natalie Bay discussed eating doughnuts for breakfast at the end of her junior year at Community College of Allegheny County Boyce Campus in the South Side. "I wonder if any of these girls learned to drive a car at 15 years old," James stated out loud. "Some of them were not quite ready yet," Henri stated. "I probably will not learn how to drive because it seems like a lot of work to drive and I could easily get in a car accident," Sarah stated. "I remember a few times when you and Carly had to take the bus when Alex was not coming with us," I pointed out. "She is the only one in the quartet who can drive." "We had to go all the way to Cheswick to help Lauren out with her party," James stated. "I felt bad when you guys ditched me yesterday and went to an event without talking to me about it first," I expressed bluntly. "That really hurt my feelings!" "We're sorry, Angel," Sarah told me. "Next time, we promise to talk to you and not leave you out. Does that sound good?" "That sounds good, Sarah," I replied. While jamming out to NSYNC, Carly, Spencer, and Mr. Benson composed a Childhood Chat in which Lauren Bennett discussed eating chips at a year old in Churchill, Victoria Spurnick discussed eating pancakes for breakfast in 5th grade in Edgewood, Emily Grey discussed watching YouTube videos at 4 years old in Forest Hills, Hannah Mifflin discussed having a party with a holiday theme in 2nd grade in Monroeville, Sarah Ching discussed having a pillow fight in 5th grade in Oakmont, Emma Wallace discussed using her new duffel bag in 9th grade in Penn Hills, Madison Dayley discussed baking cookies in 5th grade in Plum, Jennifer Preager discussed staying comfy in 9th grade in Swissvale, and Sophia Cleng discussed playing with a new stuffed animal in 7th grade in Wilkinsburg. "Maybe, you girls should consider making snow globes like we did last week at your sleepover," Carly suggested. "That would be a great idea, Carly," Lauren agreed. "I think that it would be fun," Spencer agreed. "Carly is full of great ideas," Mr. Benson pointed out. "I think that crafts are a great way to pass the time like I did the spring of my freshman year of high school," Carly happily stated. "I am really looking forward to our internship for the new year of 2023 because it features sleepovers at the Carnegie Science Center. 2023 looks like it will be a fun year for me!" "That's good," Carly stated. After we helped Lauren deliver the invitations to her 4 guests Fiona, India, Juliet, and Emily, we then headed home for the evening. "Thanks for a great day, everyone!" I thanked my friends. "You're welcome, Angel," Sarah replied. "Good night, guys!" "Good night!"