Chapter 5: Camp-In Invitations
One seasonably warm last Saturday of June 2023, I met up with my childhood friends Sarah, James, and Henri, along with some of my other best friends Alex Russo, Justin Evans, Max Greenwald, Carly Shay, and Spencer Puckett, as well as Carly's stepdad, Freddie Benson at Pittsburgh's Perfect Parties client Abigail Carson's apartment in Point Breeze. "Hi, guys!" I greeted my friends. "Hi, Angel!" Sarah greeted back. Abigail was making her invitations to her Camp-In Sleepover shaped like a tent with ribbon, scissors, and a hole punch. While jamming out to Kate Bush and Lizzo, we composed a Childhood Chat in which Elizabeth Mosh discussed making a craft in 10th grade in downtown Pittsburgh, Isabella Black discussed talking in silly accents in 5th grade in the North Side, Kaitlyn and Colleen Marioni discussed selling lemonade in 7th grade in Oakland, and Nicole Ellis discussed arranging her sleeping bag line her sophomore year at the University of Pittsburgh in the South Side. "Camping makes me excited for my birthday next month," James happily stated. "I will be turning 35 years old this year." "When James turned 16 one summer, he took me and Angel to the car dealer in Cheswick and then to Pizza Hut for dinner," Sarah happily remembered. "That was a fun night," I happily agreed. "Do you have any plans for your 35th birthday, James?" "Spencer and I are planning to have a dual birthday celebration at one of the parks, and you guys are all invited," James happily stated. "I am never afraid of the dark anymore," Henri stated. "I used to be when I was a kid, but now that I am almost 30, I am not anymore, especially since we wore all black clothes to blend into a dark classroom." Then, while jamming out to NSYNC and 98 Degrees, we composed another Childhood Chat in which Brianna Shokoko discussed doing a secret handshake in 9th grade in downtown Pittsburgh, Emma Wallace discussed telling the truth in 7th grade in East Liberty, Grace Luster discussed eating waffles for breakfast in 1st grade in the North Side, Jennifer Preager discussed taking a group photo in 8th grade in Oakland, Kayla Jennis discussed having a pillow fight in 10th grade in Shadyside, and Brooke Leesaw discussed watching a funny movie at 21 years old in the South Side. "Nevel never really liked camping, Spencer," Carly stated. "I think that James will plan something good for both of us, and your blog could easily inspire us," Spencer stated. "Going back to Henri's comment, I used to be afraid of the dark as a young kid, too," Mr. Benson happily agreed. "Does this mean that there will be traditional camping activities like that one summer after my junior year of high school?" Max asked. "It's possible, Max," Justin agreed. "The weather has been rather beautiful this month," Alex stated. "Great for exercising and doing fun activities from our scavenger hunt in the Strip District to exploring the Escape Room to bowling at Mount Lebanon Lanes!" When Abigail was done making her invitations, she delivered them to her friends Jessica, Nicole, Victoria, and Emma. "Abigail, will you be at the beach event in East Liberty next Friday?" Sarah asked. "Yes, I will be, and Hannah and Samantha will be there, too," Abigail replied. "If it's okay with Mrs. Ellis, then maybe we could help you go shopping for your sleepover on Friday since Target is right next to the activity, and then, we can take next Saturday off to go to the Three Rivers Arts Festival!" "Sure, that would be great," Abigail agreed. Sarah then called up Mrs. Ellis and explained that due to the location of next Friday's activity, they were thinking about helping her shop after the event and then taking next Saturday off to go to the Three Rivers Arts Festival. Mrs. Ellis then approved. "Good news! Mrs. Ellis said that it is okay to switch Friday and Saturday around so we can go to the Three Rivers Arts Festival on Saturday in case we do not get another opportunity to go," Sarah happily stated. "All right!" Abigail happily exclaimed. "That's awesome!" "Out of curiosity, will you girls be at the bowling activity in Mount Lebanon on Sunday?" Sarah then asked. Once Abigail was done delivering her invitations, it was time for all of us to go home. "Thanks for a great day, guys!" I thanked my friends. "You're welcome, Angel," Sarah replied. "Good night, guys!" "Good night!"