Chapter 7: Dinner with the crew
Throughout the whole day Theo had been wondering endlessly on what special thing Ivy and Mitzy were planning for him all the way up until night time.
It was now 6:57 PM with the sky starting to get dark over St. Louis. We cut to the Lackadaisy crew who were currently riding in their automobile down the busy road through the lit up city driving to a mysterious surprise destination. Theo of course was riding along with the crew for they were taking him to the said destination. The Lackadaisy crew knew the destination they were going to, only Theo didn't know because the surprise destination was specifically for him and they didn't want to spoil it for the young kitten child.
Rocky was driving behind the wheel with Freckle sitting next to him in the passenger seat. Theo was sitting in the backseat with Ivy sitting close on his left and Mitzi sitting on his right.
"Are we almost there yet?" The young tuxedo kitten asked innocently
"Just a few more blocks and we'll be there in no time Theo. You are gonna love the place we're taking you to." Ivy smiled as she tousled the top of Theo's head
"That's right kid, you're in for a real treat." Rocky said as he kept his eyes on the road
"So...you guys are all doing this for me?" Theo asked
"We sure are sweetheart. Consider yourself officially part of our family for now and the surprise we planned is our welcome gift just for you dear." Mitzi smiled as she wrapped her arm around Theo in a warm and soft side hug
This made Theo smile as he let out a happy pur while swishing his cat tail a little.
"WE'RE HERE!" Rocky exclaimed in a joyful tone as he pulled the automobile into a large parking lot and into an open spot
With the car now stopped and parked, Ivy digs in her coat pocket and takes out a white blindfold handkerchief before tying it around Theo's head covering his eyes and blocking his vision.
"Huh? What are you doing Miss Pepper? Why can't I see?" Theo asked
"Trust me on this Theo." Ivy smiled before she opened the passenger door and stepped out of the car
Ivy then lifts the blindfolded Theo out of the car and gently sets him down on the pavement. After closing up the car, the crew walks away out of the parking lot with Ivy and Mitzi both holding Theo's hands escorting him along the way while making sure he doesn't trip or stumble on anything.
Theo walked and walked blindfolded in the dark for who knows how long and wondered where he was being taken to while keeping a tight grip on Mitzi and Ivy's hands. Finally they come to a stop.
"Alright Theo, we are here! Are you ready for your surprise?" Ivy said
"Umm yes, I'm ready." Theo said as he got a little excited on the inside
"Okay, I'm taking the blindfold off."
With that, Ivy grabs Theo's blindfold and slips it off his head allowing him to see the surprise in front of him.
*Gasp!* Theo lightly gasped
Right in front of Theo and the Lackadaisy crew was a large fancy brightly lit intalian restaurant with outdoor tables illuminated with strings of lighting. The restaurant was very popular and was currently booming with lots of customers everywhere having a nice evening and chit-chattering at their tables. Above the restaurant was a large colorful lighted sign that said...
'Camilla's Italian Dining'
"This-...This is a big restaurant!" Theo said in amazement
"It sure is. As our welcome gift, you get to have a nice delicious dinner with us." Mitzi smiled as reached down and petted Theo behind his ears
"This place has the best pastas in town!" Rocky beamed
"And the best garlic breads." Freckle added
From where Theo stood, he could smell the super delicious meals coming from inside the establishment.
"*sniff, sniff* Ooooh! Yummy!" Theo squealed as he excitedly jumped up and down with a big smile on his face
Ivy couldn't help but giggle at the child's adorable excitement.
"Well let's go on in everyone! My stomach is screaming!" Rocky smiled as he licked his lips
With that, Ivy happily takes Theo by his paw and walks him into the restaurant followed by everyone else. Once inside the restaurant, a female cat waitress with a blazer jacket and bow tie greets the group.
"Good evening everyone! Welcome!" The waitress happily greeted
"Good evening to you too Miss. Table for five please." Mitzi kindly requested
"Certainly." the waitress smiled before grabbing five menu folders from a nearby stand
"Right this way everyone." The waitress instructed before walking across the crowded restaurant with the Lackadaisy crew following behind
Pretty soon the waitress comes up to a large enough circular round table to the group with exactly five chairs. The table had a large white sheet draped over it and had silverware and napkins already set up at each seat.
"Here you are folks." The waitress gestured to the table with a smile
Everyone all sat down in their seats like so. Mitzi sat down next to Rocky and Freckle on one half of the table while Ivy and Theo sat down close together on the other half of the table. After everyone all sat down, the friendly waitress passed out all the menus to each one.
"Can I start you folks with something to drink?" The waitress asked nicely
"Hmmm...I will have just a simple wine please." Mitzi requested
"I'll have a rich cocktail." Rocky said
"Just water for me." Freckle added
The waitress then turns her attention to Ivy and Theo as she writes on her note pad.
"For you young lady?" The waitress asked
"I will have a fruit punch." Ivy smiled
"Uh huh, okay. And for the little one?" The waitress asked pointing to Theo
"What would you like to drink Theo?" Ivy quickly asked
"Umm...I would like to try a fruit punch too." Theo said
"Alright then. I will be right back with your drinks everyone. We hope you enjoy your time here." the waitress smiled before walking away leaving the group to themselves
With the waitress now gone, the Lackadaisy crew start chit-chatting with Theo to pass the time at the table while waiting for their drinks.
"So Theo darling, you wanna tell us what you wanna do when you grow up?" Mitzi asked before lighting up a cigarette on her long black holding stick
"Well...I wanna fix cars." Theo answered
"Ooooh, the kid wants to be an auto mechanic." Rocky said with a grin
"That's a neat career choice Theo. But what makes wanna do it I may ask?" Ivy asked
"Well because I like big metal machines that run and move like trains and boats." Theo said
"Oh is that so." Ivy smiled
"Well let me tell ya kid, I like big metal machines too, but you wanna know something?" Rocky said
"What's that Mr. Rocky?" Theo asked
"I like riding on top of metal machines while tossing dynamite everywhere. It's a real thrill!" Rocky said with a cheeky grin
"...Wha?" Theo said as he tilted his head in confusion
"What he means is he once stood on top of a moving digger machine and threw explosives all over the place like a mad man." Freckle filled in
"What!? Is that true!?" Theo asked out of amazement
"Uh guys I don't think he needs to know about that." Ivy quickly chimed in
"Miss Pepper, did Rocky really play around with dynamite? Is it fun?" Theo asked excitedly
"Listen forget what you heard sweetie. You don't need to know." Ivy assured the kitten
Ivy then faces Rocky and gives him a dissapointed look.
"What? It's not like I was gonna teach him how to mess with dynamite later on. I was just bragging." Rocky reasoned
"Listen Rocky, Theo here is a pure innocent boy. I just don't wanna get him interested in the dangerous grown-up stuff we do on a daily basis." Ivy said
"I understand Miss Ivy, sorry about that." Rocky kindly apologized
Ivy gives a quick forgiving smile before turning her attention back to Theo.
"Hey Theo, wanna see something neat?" Ivy smiled
"Yes I do." Theo nodded
Ivy then grabs a square stiff piece of napkin from the middle of the table and folds it up in various different ways like origami before finishing it into a crane bird and presenting it to Theo.
"Ta-da!" Ivy sang like a magician finishing a magic trick
"Wowee!" Theo said in awe as he took the napkin crane from Ivy's paw and inspected it
"How did you make this!?"
"It's all in the paws kiddo." Ivy smiled before she exchanged giggles with her little companion
Meanwhile from across the table, Mitzi and Rocky both watched the wholesome sibling-like interaction between the two cats before them.
"Well isn't that a lovely sight to see." Mitzi smiled as she watched
"Indeed. Miss Ivy is really getting along with that kid." Rocky agreed
"It's almost like they were put together by fate." Mitzi said
"Yep. Ivy Pepper and Theo Flakes. The perfect duo." Rocky said
That's when Mitzi noticed a small glass jar of ground up spicy red pepper in the middle of the table next to the salt and napkins. The jar had a label on it that said 'Organic Crushed Pepper Flakes'
"Hmm, Pepper Flakes." Mitzi said
"What's that?" Rocky asked
"Pepper Flakes. That's what they are Rocky. A perfect duo nickname for those two." Mitzi smiled
"Oh I see. Pepper Flakes, rolls right off the tongue." Rocky agreed
Eventually the waitress finally showed up back to the table holding a large circular serving platter containing different glasses of beverages for the group. The waitress first handed Mitzi her wine before serving Rocky his cocktail, then Freckle's water, and two glasses of fruit punches for Ivy and Theo.
"Alright now that you all have your drinks, are you all ready to order?" The waitress asked as she clicked her pen ready to write on her note pad
With that, the Lackadaisy crew quickly look through their menus before quickly deciding on what they wanted.
"I will have just a simple gourmet spaghetti for me." Mitzi said
"I will have a calzone with everything in it." Rocky said
"An alfredo pasta for me." Freckle added
The waitress wrote in her note pad before turning to Ivy and Theo.
"And for you two?"
"We will share a large gourmet Italian pizza please." Ivy smiled
"Of course." The waitress smiled clicking her pen closed
With their orders taken down, the waitress leaves once again. Mitzi then picks up her wine glass and holds it up inviting everyone else to raise their glasses with her.
"Everyone, here's to Theo Flakes. Our youngest and yet cutest little guest of honor in our Lackadaisy." Mitzi smiled as everyone else followed along and held up their glasses.
*Clink!* "HERE'S TO THEO!" Everyone said in unison before sipping their glasses
Theo blushed and smiled feeling flattered by Mitzi's words about him.
"Wow. Theo people are really nice to me." Theo thought
Pretty soon their food arrived and the rest of the evening went swimmingly in the restaurant for the group with positive vibes. Mitzi, Rocky, and Freckle chowed down from their own dishes savoring every bite of their dinner while Ivy and Theo happily shared their large Italian pizza together.
2 hours later after finishing their delicious dinner, the group happily leaves the restaurant with their tummies full and head home for the night.
End of chapter 7