Angelica Pickles came home one day in one hundred degrees weather. She couldn't believe on how hot it was. She was surprised to have a welcoming party that Wednesday afternoon and found her friends and family. Now that she's older, cookies have always been a favorite of hers. Mostly chocolate chip.
She saw a lot of goodies as she slammed the door behind her.
"Surprise!"
"What surprise? I don't see one," Angelica told Tommy.
Tommy will be a junior in high school when summer is over. Angelica looked around. She saw a few balloons and lots of goodies. All expect for cookies.
Dil offered her a lemonade.
"Thank you, Dil. I can't believe on how hot it is out there."
Her parents, Drew and Charlotte Pickles walked over to give her a hug.
"I should've called you when I showed up at the airport."
"That's all right, Angelica. We were just starting to get the party all set up," Drew told her.
Unlike Tommy and Dil, she's an only child, but older than them. Charlotte gave her daughter a big smile.
Angelica was away on vacation out in Hawaii. She went with her friend, Susie Carmichael. Susie told Angelica before heading to the airport that she would come back home next week. Angelica accepted.
Angelica didn't feel guilty about Susie missing out on this strange party that she knew nothing about. It wasn't her birthday or anything. Why would she come home to a welcoming party? Now that she's older, Angelica still calls Drew and Charlotte Mommy and Daddy. They don't mind it.
She was fine without having music. Phil and his twin sister, Lil walked up to her. Lil gave her a card.
"Will someone tell me why I deserve a welcoming party?"
She didn't look at the card her friends just handed over.
She looked at the food once again.
"What is there to say about cookies?"
"That's the bad news, Angelica," Tommy told her.
Tommy's best friend, Chuckie Finister, wasn't at the party because he was out sick. He knew about the party but felt bad he couldn't make it. He'll have to make up for the next party.
"Just tell me what happened to the cookies! There isn't a party without cookies. Remember what I told you, Tommy?"
He remembered what she had always said.
"Of course, Angelica. A cookie just tastes better when it's someone else's."
"Don't you forget it!"
Dee Dee and Stu both heard her say those words.
"What's all the commotion about?" Stu asked.
"Uncle Stu, can you tell me what happened to the cookies? There's no party if you don't have cookies."
"That's the problem, Angelica. We looked everywhere. Not one sign of cookies," Charlotte answered.
"What do you mean there aren't any cookies?"
"Angelica, there isn't a single cookie in this town."
"Maybe you can prove it."
"If we prove it, you'll have to show me the places you looked for me to believe you."
"All right, but it won't be easy," Phil said.
Drew cut Angelica a piece of chocolate cake, which she accepted. It was homemade. Dee Dee was good at that.
"Thank you, Aunt Dee Dee."
"You're welcome."
"But I still want to know why I deserve a welcoming party!"
"We just wanted to," Lil told her.
She was more interested in having no cookies. Angelica hadn't eaten a cookie in a long time. Let's see what will make her believe there was proof there were no cookies.
"Here's the story, Angelica. Like Lil just said, we wanted to throw a party to surprise you when returning from Hawaii. Sometimes you need a party for no reason."
"Can I tell Angelica the story instead of you, Dad?" Tommy asked.
"Let Uncle Stu tell it for a change, Tommy," she told him.
"Okay."
Flashback:
It was getting closer for Angelica to return home after a vacation in Hawaii. After learned she was already on the plane, there was grocery shopping to do. Dee Dee offered to make chocolate cake.
"Why don't we get cookies too?" Dil asked.
"Dil, it's hard to find cookies," Phil answered.
"How come I haven't heard about that before? We normally don't have problems finding those."
"True that, Dil. Is the paper around, Mom?" Tommy asked.
"She wouldn't like hearing this news," Lil said.
Everyone agreed with Lil. Stu handed Dil the newspaper. It was on the front page.
"Thanks, Dad. We'll have to save this so there would be proof and make her believe us."
"Smart idea, Dil."
End Flashback
"This is all we remember," Drew added.
"There has to be more than that, Daddy. You have the whole story more from what Uncle Stu just shared."
"There is, Angelica. We saved the newspaper for proof," Drew replied.
"Where's the paper so I can see for myself?"
Dil handed it to her.
"Thanks, Dil."
"You're welcome."
Angelica snatched it and began to read. When she finished, she didn't believe what was on the front page.
"Now you'll have to go to every place in town. Then you'll have to accept it," Charlotte said.
"We can do that another day. I don't feel like going back in town today."
"That's all right, Sweetheart. Maybe we'll take you in the next couple days," Drew said.
"That I can accept. If I see proof for myself, I still find it hard to believe."
The party went on for a while longer and then it ended. It was still a good party.