Chapter 1: Collage Invitations

One unseasonably cool second Saturday of May 2021, I met up with my childhood friends Sarah, James, and Henri at Pittsburgh's Perfect Parties client Grace Luster's house in Cheswick. "Hi, guys!" I greeted my friends. "Hi, Angel!" Sarah greeted back. We sat down to dinner, which was burgers and beer. Grace was making her Angel Kitty collage invitations for her Super Fan Sleepover based on my band, Angel Kitty in 2 weeks. "I'm a huge fan of your band, Angel," Grace stated. "I didn't hear any new music from you guys last summer... except for the Global Ghost song based on the coronavirus pandemic!" "We will see what happens, Grace," I reassured her. "It's interesting how you are in the same grade that I first met Sarah during, and it has been nearly 2 years since then." "That's right, Angel," Sarah told me. "We met at the Natrona Heights Presbyterian Church during my parents' wedding!" "We also live in the Hillrise Towers Condominium together in Squirrel Hill with our other friends, Carly Shay and Alex Russo," I told Grace. "Where do you and Henri live, James?" Grace asked. "Well, Grace," James replied. "Henri and I live where Mrs. Shay and her husband used to live, on 5817 Darlington Road, which is just a few blocks north of where Angel and Sarah live." "I think that we have more space in the house than we ever did in all of those apartments out in the eastern suburbs," Henri pointed out. "Not to mention, I have a new friend named Spencer Puckett, who I met up with a couple times this past week," James added. "We were also overachievers in middle school and high school," Sarah pointed out. "There was this one honors banquet that we were honored at when James and I both went to the same school together, and it was hosted at the Natrona Heights Presbyterian Church, similar to where our parents' wedding was held!" "That's cool," Grace remarked. "I have an honors banquet coming up later this month, and it is my very first one. I hope that I have lots of fun!" "So, I guess that any hope for community outings will be either on random days other than Saturdays or Saturdays that we don't work," I stated. "That's right, Angel," Sarah told me. "But, it will still be a fun summer, nevertheless!" "Angel Kitty is similar to Santana's music," I pointed out. "That's a band that we all love to listen to!" "I have heard of Santana," Grace agreed. "What is your favorite song by them?" "Oh, that is easy," I stated. "'Into the Night' featuring Chad Kroeger, of course." "That song came out a few months before I was born," Grace pointed out. Grace even took a picture of me in my work clothes to put on the invitations and I autographed her invitations. After Grace was done making the invitations, she delivered them to her 4 guests Serena, Hailey, Zoe, and Ella. After our shift was over, James and Henri drove Sarah and me back to our condominium in Squirrel Hill. "Thanks for a great day, everyone!" I thanked my friends. "You're welcome, Angel," Sarah replied. "Good night, guys!" "Good night!"