WC: Day Seventeen < | Challenge Home Page | > WC: Interlude 3

Jaz slept fitfully, and by morning, was not in any better of a mood. Also, it was their day to help with chores, so cleaning out the toddler potty was first thing done after a quick breakfast, but before getting ready for the day.

Outside, Matt was picking up the daily newspaper he had just signed up for. With a smile, he headed to the porch to read up on the neighborhood news.

Taking a break from chores, Jaz finished getting ready for the day, and decided to get their hour of violin practice in before it got any later.

Matt found the news dull, and ended up finding more fun in the daily joke and words of inspiration in the newspaper.

Back upstairs, Jaz was in the process of collecting the laundry from Carlos' room when their phone rang. Immediately wondering if it was Phoenix just calling to yell at them some more, Jaz answered hesitantly.

Luckily, the party on the end was Elsa, and she was actually asking if Penny and Jaz would be able to attend her birthday party that afternoon. Apparently Elsa's Mom had finally relented and decided to allow her to have one after all. Jaz told Elsa they'd ask and call them back as soon as possible, and ran downstairs to find Wendy.

In the kitchen, Matt was encouraging a reluctant Carlos to do his homework for the weekend... and Carlos didn't seem to happy about it. Penny had chimed in with some words of encouragement, and Wendy had just finished cleaning up the morning's dishes.

"Hey, Wendy?" Jaz began, "I have a question, if you don't mind...?"

Wendy sat on a barstool and patted the one next to hers, "Sure, Jaz, what's up?"

"My friend Elsa is having her birthday party this afternoon, and was asking if Penny and I could come...? I know it's my day for chores, but maybe I could finish it tomorrow?" Jaz asked hesitantly.

Wendy smiled at Jaz, and replied with a smile, "I think you've done more than your share of chores since moving in, Jaz. One day of undone chores will not break this household, love. You and Penny can go to the Bjergsens' for the party. Have you thought what you might get her for a present?"

Jaz paused for a moment because, quite frankly, they hadn't thought about a present yes. Then, inspiration struck. "I know just what I can get her. Can I have some of my allowance money, please? We can stop on the way there to get it."

Wendy smiled, and went for her purse. "Here, Jaz. Don't worry about taking it out of your allowance account. I can cover it. Also, here's bus and ferry fare for you and Penny. Have a wonderful time!"

Jaz grinned, and grabbed Penny's hand, pulling her out of her chair next to Carlos and, giggling, the pair ran upstairs to get ready.

On the island in Windenburg, Elsa was sitting, waiting, on the couch. Not very patiently - but she was trying. It had taken a whole week of begging to get her mother to allow for her friends to come over for her birthday but now - finally - the day had arrived.

In the kitchen, Elsa's mother was cooking a Strawberry cake, and a caterer was on the way to make some tasty dinner to go with it.

"Alright, shorty. I guess I'll smell ya later." Elsa's older sister taunted as she left for scouts, and Elsa (who checked before doing it that her mother wasn't watching) stuck her tongue out and waggled it at Sophia. 'Just wait until later', Elsa thought, 'I'll be the same size you are, and then we'll see who picks on who!!'

With a sigh, Elsa peeked over her shoulder, watching for her friends to come from the ferry stop, but with no luck. Looking at the clock, Elsa realized she still had at least a half hour to wait ... and decided to see if her mother needed some help in the kitchen to make the time pass quicker. If that, indeed, were possible.

The time, did, indeed pass... and her friends started arriving, all dressed in their party clothes. Elsa cringed as her little sister had a horrible, noisy, temper tantrum behind her, and tried to raise her voice as she welcomed each friend one by one.

By the time Jaz and Penny arrived, the games had begun, and they were passed a controller to join in on the fun. Colin was cheering everyone on, and Lucas was doing a little trash talking, but it was all in good fun, so nobody took offense. (Especially because Lucas was actually usually the one losing.)

One by one, everyone happily took turns until everyone had had a chance to play with the birthday girl... all except for Colin, who had decided to play with the cranky toddler to keep her quiet. He certainly didn't mind doing it - he had little contact with little ones, being that his only siblings were teenagers - and it didn't look like either of the adult Bjergsen's had any intention of actually playing with her.

The party passed quickly, and before long, dinner was had, and it was time for the cake.. and the fun of seeing just who Elsa was going to be when she aged up.

Elsa took a long moment to make her wish before blowing out the candles... and everyone cheered loudly as she got ready to spin her way into the teen years.

After the spin, she ran to change into her new clothes, then hurried back for her piece of strawberry cake.

Everyone loved the cake, and parents started arriving to pick up their children. Elsa sighed, wishing the evening could last forever, but the sun was setting, so she knew things were over. Tomorrow, High School started - and, with her older sister already established at the school - who knew what sort of bullying awaited her.

Elsa cringed inwardly, and said goodbye to her friends, heading upstairs to find something to do before bedtime. Anything to make the time pass quicker.

She heard the footsteps behind her on the stairs, and turned around to see Jaz had followed her upstairs.

"Jaz? Everything okay?" Elsa asked, wondering why their friend wasn't already heading to the ferry dock. Nervously, Elsa glanced at the swiftly darkening sky, and worriedly asked, "Aren't you going to miss the ferry?"

"No, I have time." Jaz said, and brought out a clearly hastily-wrapped gift out from behind her back. "I got you something. Wendy wouldn't let me use my allowance, but I picked this out special. Sorry the wrapping looks awful. I had to wrap it on the bus on the way here."

"JAZ! You absolutely did NOT have to get me a gift!" Elsa cried, and tried to push it back at Jaz.

After a moment - one in which Jaz heartily insisted that this was something Elsa really needed - Elsa finally took the gift and carefully opened the lid.

"A... blank book?" Elsa asked, curiously, "With a .. lock on it?"

"It's a Journal, Elsa. For you to write all the things you think but can't say to anyone else. I got the one with a lock so you could keep your sisters out of it. I know how siblings can be." Jaz replied with a knowing giggle.

Elsa's eyes teared up as she replied, "Jaz. This is really the most thoughtful gift I think I've ever received. Thank you. I will miss being part of the club, too. Saturdays had become my most favorite time of the week."

"Yeah, I know." Jaz replied regretfully, "I wish we could have changed the rules to allow teenagers in the club just for you... but that's just not how it worked out. I will miss you, too."

Elsa wiped away a tear, and leaned down to give Jaz a huge, heartfelt hug. "Thank you again, Jaz. ... And now, you really better run to catch up with Penny. The ferry won't wait forever!"

Jaz giggled, and ran down the steps, dashing out the front door into the darkness. Elsa looked at the journal in her hand.. and, hearing her sister coming in from scouts, hurried to her room to find a good hiding spot. Maybe she could find some time to write in it for the first time before bed...

"So," Penny asked, curious, "What did you get for Elsa? You never did say...?"

"Something she'll need." Jaz hedged, and urged Penny to greater speed - pointing at the boat that was already waiting at the dock.

Luckily, they made it just barely in time, and Wendy hurried them through their bedtime routine and into bed, knowing school would start in the morning whether they had slept well or not. She kissed each of them goodnight, and went to get ready for bed herself.

Meanwhile... the trellis attached to Carlos' balcony was having it's strength tested. Carlos had, apparently, gotten tired of only talking to Sophia online, and since he had a room to himself, had decided to invite Sophia over.

Luckily, the trellis held, and the window slid up silently to admit Sophia.

Carlos tried to seem nonchalant, cool, and calm about the whole thing, but inside he was anything but. Taking a deep breath, he turned to welcome his impromptu guest....

... with a kiss. Sophia was surprised, sure, but quickly got up to speed....

... and kissed Carlos back with feeling.

Figuring he must be on the right track, Carlos quickly followed the kiss up with asking her to be his girlfriend.

The celebration when she said yes, however, was cut short by the door to Carlos' room swinging open.

The scene quickly turned ugly, with Matt scolding Carlos and Sophia. Carlos took it in stride, but Sophia seemed quite taken aback.

Luckily, Matt had missed the kiss, or there might have been something else to ground poor Carlos for.

After the scolding, Sophia cheekily wished Carlos a good night, and blithely climbed back out the window, trying to show that she wasn't the least bit phased by Matt's scolding.

Carlos was rushed into bed, and the trellis outside was tested again, but once again it held firm.

Sophia smirked to herself as she headed back home, and upstairs, Carlos fell asleep with a smile on his face. Clearly, getting grounded was the least of his problems now.

WC: Day Seventeen < | Challenge Home Page | > WC: Interlude 3