Chapter 3: Finding Housing
The next day, I met Sarah, James, and Henri at Denunzio's Italian Restaurant in Monroeville for another birthday celebration. Some of my other best friends Alex Russo, Justin Evans, and Max Greenwald met us there, too. "Hi, guys!" I greeted my friends. "Hi, Angel!" Sarah greeted back. "Happy birthday, Angel!" Alex wished me. "Thanks, Alex," I replied. "If I'm not mistaken, your birthday's coming up soon too, Alex," Sarah remembered. "May 2?" "That's correct, Sarah," Alex replied. "I'm thinking about having my birthday dinner here on May 7." "We can't come, because we'll be traveling New England from April 28 through May 12," Sarah told us. "I would like a flank steak dinner like we had the day we completed our resumes and cover letters," I ordered. "We listened to Latin music too that day," Sarah remembered. "That was also the meal we had for Christmas one year too, huh, Sarah?" I asked my friend. "Actually, we had beef tenderloin, lobster, roasted potatoes, asparagus, and Christmas cookies," Sarah corrected me. "I actually remember having flank steak for Christmas dinner in 2010," Alex told us. "We also had a white Christmas that year, but not this past Christmas," I remembered. "Yeah, Pittsburgh hardly ever gets a white Christmas anymore," Alex agreed. "Speaking of which, can you help me with housing since I might not always live with my mom and stepdad, Mason?" "Sure, Alex," Sarah replied. "I live alone with my stepbrothers, James and Henri." "I need help with housing too, James," Justin admitted. "I need improvement in taking care of my apartment, even though I don't have younger siblings, and because my dad doesn't live with me anymore." "You're not alone, Justin," James agreed. "My dad doesn't live with me anymore, either." "What is everybody talking about, Henri?" Max asked. "They're talking about housing, Max," Henri replied. "Something that I don't really know much about." "It's okay, Henri," Max agreed. "I have only lived in an apartment for 2 years since I graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania." "If you want to live in an apartment by yourself, Alex," Sarah explained, "and celebrate holidays like Christmas on your own without your mom and stepdad, you need to have good planning skills." "Hopefully, your Carnegie Museum internship will help you do just that," I chimed in. "I still live with my dad and stepmom during the week, and my mom on the weekends." "What do you do to pay for your housing, James?" Justin asked. "Well, I pay rent for my apartment once a month, Justin," James replied, "and I also have to pay bills." "Rent, bills, is there anything else I didn't catch?" Max asked. "Maybe just celebrating the holidays," Max asked. Pretty soon, our meals arrived. "Mmm, that steak looks good, Angel," Alex stated. "It looks a little like the roast beef I ate at my senior banquet, and now, I am having penne marinara like I had the same night." "That tastes yummy, but I like gnocchi with cheese and tomato cream sauce," Sarah told us. "We also had foods like salad, rolls, and chicken fingers," Alex remembered. "Hey maybe, I can try that if we come here for your birthday, Alex!" I exclaimed. "I'll be 24 years old on my next birthday, Sarah," Alex told Sarah. "I also cook my own meals, which is important about housing." "I am learning to do that, too, Alex," I agreed. "James cooks most of our meals for us, but I help him out," Sarah told both of us. I got a special birthday cake with nuts on top. Once again, Alex decided not to have birthday cake and split a hot fudge sundae, which I decided to split with her. I also got more presents from Alex and Sarah, which were a Barnes and Noble gift card from Sarah and silver hoop earrings from Alex. After dinner, Sarah, James, and Henri drove me back to my mom's apartment. "Thanks for a great dinner and evening, guys!" I told my friends. "You're welcome, Angel," Sarah replied back. "Bye, guys!" "Bye!"