The ceremony had ended, the final bell had rung. The auditorium doors burst open from the force of hundreds of screaming kids, enthralled at their new grade level statuses and the promise of a long, sweet summer vacation. Amidst the chaos, and through the thick summer heat, Rhonda's voice could be heard.
"Attention former PS 118 Fifth Graders of Mrs. Packenham's class! Don't forget that there is a party at my house tonight at 7 o clock!"
"Yeah, yeah, pipe down, Princess! We've only been reminded about a THOUSAND times since April that you'd have a party tonight…" Helga sneered. She was in an exceptionally bad mood, as her parents seemingly forgot her fifth grade promotion ceremony. However, that did NOT make Rhonda less irritated at the comment.
"A party? Tonight?" whined Harold. "Ohh I forgot!!"
"Good grief, Pink Boy! How could you possibly have forgotten after all seventeen billion times Rhonda here reminded us? They must be outta their minds to let you promote to middle school…"
The argument continued, but Rhonda did not stay to listen to it. Her thoughts were on her marvelous party. She smiled.
A little ways away, Curly was smiling too. It was a slightly sad, mostly hopeful smile, because Curly knew that this party was his last chance…
He took off at a run towards his house, leaving his parents behind at the school. He needed time to get ready. He needed to make sure everything was perfect for tonight, and he had no time to waste.
Rhonda, in the backseat of her father's gorgeous red convertible, was ecstatic. She was out of elementary school. It was official! And, after her party, Thaddeus Curly Gammelthorpe would be long gone! Could there possibly be a better day? Rhonda giggled to herself as the wind danced through her hair. This was the beginning of a better, happier Rhonda Wellington Lloyd.
As the car rolled up to the house, Rhonda jumped out. She had to get ready for tonight. She needed to make sure everything was perfect for tonight, and she had no time to waste.
At seven o' clock, Rhonda was ready. She looked beautiful in a yellow sundress and white headband, the house was spotless, and her parents had promised only to come downstairs in the case of an extreme emergency. She had the making for the perfect pre-teen party, and was on cloud nine.
The guests gradually began to arrive. Eugene was first as always (the poor kid was oblivious to the "fashionably late" rule), and last was Harold, who seemed to have just remembered the party. Yes, everyone was accounted for…Eugene, Sheena, Lila, Nadine, Katrinka, Phoebe, Gerald, Stinky, Sid, Harold, Arnold, Brainy, Robert, Helga, Peapod Kid, Iggy, Park, Joey Stevenson, Lorenzo…
Someone was missing…
Her heart stopped. For one glorious, shining moment, she thought he forgot…
Ding-dong
Great.
Rhonda took a deep, steadying breath, and walked with her head held high to the door. She braced herself, and slowly pulled the door open…
"Hello Rhonda," said Curly, as maturely and respectfully as he could. He bowed slightly, holding out a box wrapped in plain blue paper with a little white ribbon. "This is for you, my sweet."
Rhonda eyed the package.. It perfectly matched the blue suit he was wearing. She snorted at his outfit. He was, clearly, trying way too hard.
"This is NOT a gift-giving party, Curly." She said his name with every ounce of contempt that she was capable of. "The invitation made that perfectly clear."
"I know, but since-"
She folded her arms, and turned up her nose. "I don't want it."
"But-"
"No 'but's, Curly. No means no. That's final."
To her astonishment, something in his eyes seemed to break, or die. His shoulders fell. Like a warrior without a sword, defenseless, and hopeless, Curly uttered a simple "Okay, Rhonda."
Pleased at his lack of argument, Rhonda steeped aside to let him into the party, where things were going, in her opinion, splendidly. Sid, Stinky, and Harold were having a Yahoo chugging contest, Lorenzo was casually flirting with a giggling Lila, Sheena and Eugene were discussing musicals ("Did you hear? They're making a RATS II!"), and Gerald had just told a joke, causing Arnold, Phoebe, and even Helga to laugh. Suddenly, Nadine ran up to Rhonda, excited.
"Rhonda, Rhonda!! Peapod Kid and I were talking, and he suggested we play spin–the-bottle! He said it would be a great way to spice up the party! What do you think?"
Irritated as she was that Peapod Kid thought her party needed "spicing up," Rhonda couldn't ignore the vitality of a good game of spin-the-bottle…
"Oh, Nadine! What a fabulous idea! Turn off the music, I'm going to make the announcement!" Rhonda cried. The bright, Summery music was turned off, Rhonda stood on a chair and yelled" Hey! Who wants to play a friendly game of spin-the-bottle?" She grinned wickedly.
Across the room, Harold was quickest to respond. "EWWWWWWWWW! Spin-the-bottle means you have to KISS people! If I knew I'd have to kiss people I wouldn't have come to this dumb party! Girls are dumb, spin-the-bottle-is dumb! I don't wanna kiss any dumb girls." He ended with a huff, crossing his arms.
"Yeah, well no girl would wanna kiss you either, Blimp-O." Stated Helga with attitude.
"I told you not to call me that! I have a gland problem!"
"Yeah, if your stomach can be considered a gland…" snickered Sid.
"Why I oughta-"
Harold was interrupted by a frustrated Rhonda. "FINE! How about this, Harold? We all play Spin-the-bottle truth or dare. That way, you don't HAVE to kiss anybody unless you are dared to, and you can't back out of a dare or you're branded Weasel For Life. Does everyone agree?"
A chorus of various "yes"s followed.
"Good. Now everyone sit on the floor in a circle. I'll spin first since it's MY party." Spinning one of the empty Yahoo bottles onher gleaming hardwood floor, she grinned craftily, formulating a good question for each of the members of the circle in her mind. The bottle was slowing…it passed Stinky…Phoebe…Gerald (who exhaled, relieved)…and came to rest on Arnold.
"Terrific; Arnold." She drawled. He looked up, cheeks reddening…
"Truth, or dare?"
"Uh…"
"Choose truth, man." Whispered Gerald. "For all you know she may make you do that whole 'bunny pajamas' thing again…"
"Truth." Arnold's heart beat hard in his chest. Rhonda could see he was nervous.
"Okay, Arnold…I'll give you an easy one, since you had to go first and all." She smiled mischievously. "Do you…like-like…"
Arnold gulped nervously.
"….Lila?"
Lila giggled behind her hand.
Rhonda had expected Arnold to beat around the bush before he finally answered yes, but he surprised her.
"No. Not anymore. I just like her."
Lila's jaw dropped.
"Oh, Arnold. It's cute that you would try to salvage your dignity and all, but we all know you still do…" Rhonda stated.
"I don't. " Arnold, quickly half glanced at Helga, who had mysteriously gone a bit pink in the face and was smiling dreamily, until she realized what she was doing, and discreetly slapped herself in the face. Rhonda, who was certain that no one else perceived this, decided she MUST further investigate this peculiar behavior. But first…
"Okay, my turn to spin." Arnold spun, and it landed on….Brainy.
"Uh…hi." Wheezed Brainy.
"Um, hi, Brainy…Truth or dare?"
"Uh…truth."
At this point, Helga grabbed the bottle, and pointed it threateningly at Brainy.
"I've got a question for YOU, pal. Why are you ALWAYS following me around, huh? And BREATHING behind my head, and being a general CREEP? I mean, criminy! Can't a girl have a little space without being followed everywhere?" Sid discreetly slipped the bottle out of her grasp before she could lose her temper and hit Brainy with it. Brainy, as she spoke, began breathing heavily. Helga's eyes bulged. "See? Just like you're doing right now!" Helga threw her clenched fists on her hips as she glowered down at him.
Silence, then…
"Uhhh……"
Brainy held this out. The rest of the circle exchanged looks. Helga cocked one half of her unibrow.
He wheezed."….I dunno." He spun the bottle. Helga sat down, exasperated, defeated, or else unwilling to pursue the subject further.
The bottle landed on Sid, who promptly shouted "Dare! See, Stinky, I'm not too chicken to pick dare!"
"Uh…dance for us…"
Sid blushed, but nevertheless did his best rendition of Thriller, finally ending with a moonwalk across the center of the circle, at which point he sat down to applause.
"Thank you, thank you." He smiled, removing his backwards hat and bowing.
He spun the bottle. Rhonda.
"Ahaha! Rhonda! Excellent…What happened when you and Harold went into the Tunnel of Love together, and WHY did you do it? Didn't you KNOW that was a romantic ride? Do you have a crush on Harold Burman? " Sid fired these at her like court accusations.
She remained sitting calmly on the ground, unfazed, her arms folded. "I didn't pick yet, Sid." She grinned triumphantly. "I pick dare."
Sid, who was pointing fiercely at Rhonda, deflated and dropped his arm to the floor. Stinky piped up with "I have the perfect dare, Sid!" He leaned over and whispered it into Sid's ear.
"Oh man! That's the best dare ever, Stinky!"
"What? What?!" Rhonda was frantic.
"Kiss…"Sid grinned viciously.
Rhonda gulped….this did NOT bode well.
Sid and Stinky snickered a moment or two, but regained composure.
Rhonda realized what Sid would say a split second before he actually did but held an ounce of hope...
Don't say….
"…Curly."