Chapter 5: The Christmas Party

The next day, I met up with Sarah, James, and Henri, as well as my other best friends Alex Russo, Justin Evans, and Max Greenwald, at the Stephen Foster Community Center in Larenceville for Alex's annual Christmas party, right after we had breakfast in Lawrenceville earlier that day. "Hi, guys!" I greeted my friends. "Hi, Angel!" Sarah greeted back. "Merry Christmas, Angel," Alex wished me. "Thanks, Alex," I replied. "I have some presents for you girls," Sarah told us. Sarah gave me and Alex our presents. "I have presents for you girls, too," I told my friends. "Alex, a heated blanket for you to keep warm during the long winter months, and Sarah, a traveling blanket set for when you leave for Gettysburg." "You're going to Gettysburg?" Alex asked. "Uh-huh," Sarah replied. "For Christmas vacation." "I also have presents for you girls," Alex told us. "Some CDs for you to listen to in the car on your way to Gettysburg, Sarah, and some DVDs for you to watch any time, Angel." James, Henri, Justin, and Max also had gifts to exchange. "I have an iTunes gift certificate for you, Justin," James stated, "so you can buy anything you want over the holidays!" "And, I have a gingerbread house kit for you to make gingerbread houses on your vacation to Gettysburg, James," Justin explained. "It's perfect, and it will give me something to do for Christmas," James remarked. Henri and Max basically exchanged games with each other. "I have a game of Family Feud for you, Max," Henri stated. "And, I have a game of Pass the Pigs for you, Henri," Max explained. "Pass the Pigs?" Henri asked. "What kind of game is that?" "That was all the store had to offer," Max explained. "I'm so glad that everyone likes their gifts," I told everyone. "I especially love the CDs that you gave us, Sarah." "I thought that you girls would like them," Sarah explained. "They are basically songs that I grew up with that you girls will love!" "Your CDs are basically 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s songs," Alex explained to Sarah. Pretty soon, it was time for dinner to be served. Baked chicken, shell pasta with marinara sauce, roasted red potatoes, spinach salad, and fruit salad, cold cuts, cheese, and sandwich rolls, as well as numerous desserts, like cookies, cupcakes, and ice cream were served. "Mmm, this food is really good, Alex," I stated. "It reminds me of the time when Sarah took me out for my birthday dinner at the Grand Concourse in Station Square." "Yeah, I guess so, Angel," Sarah agreed. "I just had a Caesar salad, although this pasta is really good!" Sarah took a bite of the shells in marinara sauce. "I thought you guys would like it," Alex told us. "I asked my mom and stepdad about it, and they agreed to help with catering instead of a potluck this year." "You don't have very much food on your plate, do you?" I asked. "No, I don't, Angel," Alex replied. "Just a turkey and Swiss cheese sandwich with salad and a vanilla cupcake." "Sarah and I also split a birthday sundae at the restaurant," I remembered. "Do you want to join in, Alex?" "Sure, after all, I missed your birthday celebration back then," Alex replied, "although we just went to the Grand Concourse two weeks ago." We went to the dessert table and got 3 spoons to share our ice cream together. "I'm really going to miss you, Sarah," Alex stated. "I'll miss you and Angel, too," Sarah agreed. "Now, what was that movie you wanted to show us, Alex?" "I forgot to bring the movie that we were talking about, so I brought a different movie entitled Hercule Poirot's Christmas," Alex explained. Alex turned on the TV and put the DVD in. "I hope that you, James, and Henri have lots of fun in Gettysburg," I told Sarah. "Alex and I will really be thinking of you." "I also have Carly and her parents to spend the holidays with," Alex explained. "Can we maybe have a movie night at your house sometime over the winter break?" I asked my friend. "Like on a Saturday night?" "We'll see," Alex replied. She also had Christmas songs performed by Elvis Presley playing on her iPhone. "I felt sad when Angel was leaving us to go to Edinboro University," Alex remembered, "so we ate a special dinner downtown and then went to Kennywood Park the next day to have fun!" "Sarah, James, and Henri will only be gone for a few weeks," I explained. "Yes, we should be back after the new year, Alex," Sarah reassured. "I'm so glad that I could spend Christmas with all of my special friends Sarah, James, Henri, Alex, Justin, and Max," I happily stated. "I think we should get a group photo of all of us together!" I took a group photo of everyone, while I took a selfie with me, Sarah, and Alex together after we shared our ice cream sundae. Pretty soon, it was time for all of us to go. Sarah, James, and Henri drove me back to Mom's apartment in Highland Park. "Thanks for a great day, everyone!" I thanked my friends. "You're welcome, Angel," Sarah replied. "Bye, guys!" "Bye!"