Chapter 7: Christmas Activities
One seasonably mild second Saturday of December 2022, I met up with my old childhood friends Sarah, James, and Henri along with some of my other best friends, Carly Shay and Spencer Puckett, as well as Carly's stepdad, 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. "I can't wait until next Saturday," Lauren happily told us. "For food, I am going to have eggnog, hot chocolate, and Christmas cookies and cupcakes. For activities, we are going to sing Christmas karaoke, have a gift exchange, and then make snow globes." "That all sounds like fun!" I happily remarked. "I bet that you guys cannot wait to perform in the concert this Tuesday at the library." "Yes, it will be fun, all right!" Lauren exclaimed. After we helped Lauren go shopping at Target for everything that she needed for her Christmas sleepover next Saturday, we then ended up participating in 2 Childhood Chats for the day. While jamming out to Kate Bush, Emily Grey, one of Lauren's guests, discussed doing a secret handshake at 2 years old in downtown Pittsburgh, Kayla Jennis discussed talking in silly accents in 4th grade in East Liberty, Brooke Leesaw discussed drinking fruit punch in 9th grade in the North Side, Jessica Linden discussed staying comfy in 7th grade in Oakland, Allison Brawner discussed buying a new stuffed animal in 12th grade in Shadyside, and Julia Robison discussed eating doughnuts for breakfast at the end 0f 11th grade in the South Side. While jamming out to NSYNC, Ashley Cassoin discussed having a movie marathon in kindergarten in Bloomfield, Isabella Black discussed doing a secret handshake in kindergarten in Highland Park, Kaitlyn and Colleen Marioni discussed telling the truth in 2nd grade in Lawrenceville, Natalie Bay discussed eating waffles for breakfast in 10th grade in Morningside, Rachel Luster discussed having a party with a Disney theme in 1st grade in Point Breeze, Abigail Mifflin discussed having a photo shoot at the end of 11th grade in Regent Square, Victoria Spurnick discussed talking in silly accents at 19 years old in Squirrel Hill, and Jennifer Preager discussed pulling pranks at 18 years old in Stanton Heights. "Carly, I am actually worried that a secret handshake means danger, as it did when John Paul asked me to see an R-rated movie when I was Lauren's age," Sarah stated. "Those girls were way too young to see R-rated movies, Sarah," Carly pointed out. "But, my favorite part was the girls talking in silly accents, especially Kayla for Black History Month 2012. Winter camp was fun this week, as well. I cannot wait to help out again just like how I participated in summer camp as a teenager." "Do you have any plans for Christmas, Spencer?" James asked. "Not except for maybe visiting with Carly's stepfamily, James," Spencer pointed out. "We need to bake Christmas cookies of our own next Saturday, Mr. Benson," Henri stated. "Why is that, Henri?" Mr. Benson asked. "So, I am not too hungry and have something to eat," Henri explained. Then, it was time for all of us to go 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!"