smallestopener | Slumber Birthday Party

The tea party room in the House of Arch has been re-arranged. The chests of dress-up clothes are still there, but the large table is gone. In its place are comfy, overstuffed chairs, a long sofa, and several cushions and bean bags scattered about. There is a small table loaded with snacks like crisps, dips, cupcakes, candy, and soda. There's also a veggie tray and cheese and crackers for all of those over age eight.

An old model TV hooked up to VCR is set up with several video cassettes of movies such as The Aristocats, Sleeping Beauty, Shirley Temple classics, and other fun viewing choices.

Tom and Door have been busy escorting guests into the House, if they didn't already have access on their own, and the birthday girl greets them with squeeful happiness. Megwyn is already there, standing by a basket of fresh hay and apples. Even Companions need treats.

She is wearing pajamas with unicorns on them with a fluffy yellow robe on over. She is very excited and feeling very grown up. She's going to stay up all night.

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"Awww, Susan can say my name! Good, then we'll watch it. It's a funny one. It has pretty kittens that talk and dance."

Most of the words Susan knows are names.

"It sounds like a very fun movie, dear," says Amy. "I'm sure Susan will love it.

"You're getting quite grown up, aren't you, Princess Ingress?"

"A little, I guess," she giggles.

"Ing-gess," says Susan, again, reaching her arms out to the other girl.

"I'm very proud of you, Ingress. Today and all days."

"Come here, Susan!" She reaches for her, as well.

"Thanks, Amy. Can I hold the baby?"

"Of course," says Amy, handing Susan carefully over to her Official Big Sister.

Susan says happily, "Ing-gess! Baaaaagaaaah fubble muuuuuuuuuuh!"

"You're talking a lot, huh? Do you want a cupcake?"

Hey, you're old enough to say the birthday girl's name, you're old enough to have a cupcake. Or so Ingress thinks.

"Beee. Paapaa geeoooooow." Of course Susan wants a cupcake. Preferably one with a lot of frosting in a very bright color that she can make a proper mess with.

Amy nods. "I think she'd very much like a cupcake, but you may have to help her with it."

"I can take off the wrapper for her."

Ingress sits down on a nearby chair. Toddlers are heavy.

"Can you say cake, Susan? Cake."

"Caaaaaaaaaaaaay," says Susan, managing half the word and reaching her hands out to the cupcakes.

Amy grins. "Thank you, Ingress."

"She almost said it! Wow."

She kisses Susan on the head.

"Oh, guess who else has babies! Puck and Lilly! I gave them ideas for names."

Amy blinks.

"Puck and Lilly? Lilly Kane? Have . . . babies? Without names?"

Amy is very, very confused.

"There's a sign about it," she points out helpfully. "I guess they couldn't think of any names, so they asked everyone for ideas."

"I see," says Amy, who really doesn't see at all.

She still stuck at the Lilly and Puck have babies part.

"And what names did you suggest?" she asks.

"Ing-gess!"

"No, not Ingress. I said Door or Arch, but if they needed Topside names, I said Alexandria Victoria Elizabeth Amy and Richard Charles Johnathan Edmund."

Amy smiles. "They're excellent names, Ingress. All of them. And I'm very honored that you included mine."

Susan reaches out one frosting covered hand and leaves a purple smudge on Ingress' face.

"No, no, Susan," Ingress laughs. "The icing's for your mouth, not my face!"

Susan considers Ingress for a moment, and then carefully draws a purple frosting smudge on her own face. She beams at Ingress. Now they match!

Amy looks down at these two dear, dear girls and smiles. "We should let you greet your other guests, Ingress."

"I can come sit with you guys, later, okay? And we can have stories or play dress up. I bet Susan will look pretty in dress up clothes."

Ingress hands Susan back to her mum.

"We'll look forward to it," Amy promises.

Another quick hug for Ingress, and they're off to mingle.

Slumber Birthday Party

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Re: Greeting the birthday girl

Re: Greeting the birthday girl

Re: Greeting the birthday girl

Re: Greeting the birthday girl

Re: Greeting the birthday girl

Re: Greeting the birthday girl

Re: Greeting the birthday girl