Chapter 10: Rubik's Cube Invitations

One cooler second Saturday of July 2020, I met my childhood friends Sarah, James, and Henri at the Pittsburgh's Perfect Parties in Monroeville for a meeting, then at their apartment in Penn Hills for a spectacular Saturday with my other best friends, and finally, at client Abigail Mifflin's house in Fox Chapel. "Hi, guys!" I greeted my friends. "Hi, Angel!" Sarah greeted back. "Long time, no see, Abigail," James stated. "What have you guys been up to since we last saw you?" "Well, my friends and I were making crafts, while my sister, Hannah and her friends are making snacks," Abigail explained. Abigail was making her Rubik's Cube invitations for her Totally '80s Sleepover in 2 weeks. We also sat down to dinner, which was Chinese food and carrot cake. "I wish that I lived in the 1980s decade, so I am throwing a Totally '80s sleepover just to see what life was like back then," Abigail explained. "Well, Sarah and I were born in the 1980s," James explained. "Except we were born in the late 1980s, though," Sarah added. "Yes, I knew that," Abigail agreed. "Yum, that was a good meal," Henri stated, licking his lips. "I was hungry from all of that fun with Mr. Benson and Max today!" "Did you guys also know that Jill's birthday is coming up next week?" I asked. "She will be 15 years old." "I knew that, too," Abigail agreed. "Are you going to do something fun to celebrate?" "We were thinking of throwing a surprise party for her, just like we had for Angel when she was a kid," James explained. "I was worried that nobody except James wanted to celebrate my birthday with me that day," I explained. "They must have forgotten, or something!" "We would never forget your birthday, Angel," Sarah told me. "That's good, and I never forget your birthdays," I stated. "Do you remember what day my birthday is?" Abigail asked. "Yes, it is on February 11," I replied. "What about Nicole, Jessica, Victoria and Emma?" "Nicole's birthday is on May 5, Jessica's birthday is on April 12, Victoria's birthday is on January 23, and Emma's birthday is on March 21." "Angel is quite amazing with dates and numbers," Henri stated. "It's true," James agreed. "She can even remember what day we were born on." "James was born on a Wednesday, Sarah was born on a Thursday, and Henri was also born on a Thursday," I pointed out. "It feels like only yesterday that we were just volunteering with these slumber parties," Sarah stated. "We volunteered with your Paint Party around your high school graduation last year, and at this time last year, we also helped out with Hannah's Stars and Stripes Carnival." "I wish that I had a slumber party when I graduated from high school," James stated. "But, my graduation ceremony was very good!" "Yes, and then you started a trend of students going to Carnegie Mellon University, including your stepsister and younger brother," I pointed out. I also noticed that Sarah was dressed differently than normal. She was wearing a pair of white high-heeled sandals and her toenails were painted light pink. "I can only guess that you are trying to get out of your comfort zone and dress up like Alex," I told my best friend. "That's right, Angel," Sarah told me. "Even though I prefer dressing like Carly, I am going to try dressing like Alex for a week just to see what it feels like." "You can't even walk long distance in high heels, Sarah," I told my best friend. "That reminds me how we couldn't do many outings like we used to in the summer, because we have a professional job helping out with these slumber parties, and we couldn't do many outings last summer, either." "Not only that, but it is also not really safe to do outings at a time like this," Sarah pointed out. Abigail then delivered the invitations to her guests Nicole, Jessica, Victoria, and Emma, who were also sitting right beside her. After our shift was over, Sarah, James, and Henri drove me back to my mentor, Jenna's apartment in Point Breeze. "Thanks for a great evening, guys!" I thanked my friends. "You're welcome, Angel," Sarah replied. "Bye, guys!" "Bye!"