“Happy birthday, Chero!” Chi cried, running up and glomping the girl. It was a little strange that the shorter girl could still manage to tackle brunette.
“Thanks, Chi!” Chero said, hugging her back.
Mocha helped the two up and hugged them. “Happy birthday, Chero! Hey, Chi.”
“Hey, Mocha,” Chi said, patting her head. Mocha smiled and barked.
“Playing dog for the day, Mocha?” Trish asked, scratching her behind the ear. The strange girl smiled. “Of course!”
“Happy birthday, Chero!” Trish said, hugging the other girl. Ezio was right on her heals.
“Happy birthday, bella,” he said, ruffling her hair.
“Thanks. And thank you everyone for showing up.” She her hair. “But where’s Dino?” She looked around.
“Yeah, where is the father of your children?” Chi asked. Everyone laughed.
“He’s bringing the cake,” Mocha told them, looking out the window. “There he is right now!”
Dino burst through the door and collapsed in a chair, cake-less. The girls looked at each other, and went to him. Ezio crossed his arms.
“Are you alright?” Chero asked. Ezio and Mocha raised their eyebrows.
“No,” the Italian said, laying an arm over his eyes.
“What happened, amico?” Ezio asked, sitting down and folding his arms over the back of the chair.
“Well, here’s how it went,” Dino said, sitting up. The girls all sat down and settled in for story time.
“I had the cake that you, Mocha, had already ordered. I was on my way back when… when…” He scratched his head nervously.
“What happened?” Chero asked.
“Some guys came up and said they bought the cake. They wanted it, and said they’d fight me for it. So I did.
“There was ten of them. I fought them off as best as I could, but they beat me. So they took the cake and ran. I chased after them and they ran into a garbage dump. I was attacked by a pack of wild dogs and they kept biting and scratching… I managed to get away from them, but I’d lost the cake.
“It started raining, and I knew that by now, the cake would be ruined. I went back to the store, but it was closed. I begged and I pleaded, but they wouldn’t open up, and they wouldn’t make a new cake. So in the end, I just came here.”
Everyone looked at Dino sympathetically, but then Mocha paused. “Some guys wanted the cake? Why?”
“And amico, it’s sunny today,” Ezio said, gesturing outside.
“And the store is open until seven pm. It’s noon,” Chi murmured, tilting her head to the side.
Dino looked up sheepishly. “Okay, okay, so the truth is I lost the cake.”
“You lost the cake?!” Mocha thundered, standing over the blond.
“Heh heh, yeah. I, um… tripped.”
“Oh, Dino,” Chero said, patting his hand. “Why did you make up that wild story?”
“Because I knew it wouldn’t sound too good saying that I tripped.”
“Well I’d rather you trip than lose the cake. No offence,” Mocha added.
“I’m going to call the store,” Chi said. She quickly picked up the phone and muttered the order into the receiver, and then hung up.
“Come on, everyone, let’s go into the living room,” Trish said. “Let’s get some music going. Lighten up the mood,” she added, moving to the stereo. The speakers began to play some recent pop music. Mocha stayed behind in the kitchen, smiling at the group. Then the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it!” she called, turning the knob. She opened the door on ten rough looking guys, a pack of mangy mutts, and a pristine cake.
“Surprise,” grunted the one holding the cake, handing it over. The surprised girl took it and closed the door.
A thunder storm rolled in from the direction of the store. The phone rang, and the confused brunette set down the cake and picked it up. “We’re closed for today. Would you like the cake tomorrow?”
“No, that’s okay,” she said, thanking them and hanging up.
“Cake’s here!” she called, bringing the cake into the living room. The group jumped on the cake like a cloud of locusts. Mocha pulled Dino aside.
“Interesting story, Dino,” she said, narrowing her eyes.
“Wasn’t it, though?” he replied quietly, smiling knowingly.
“Do you have rabies?”
“No, I got a shot, so I’m immune.”
“Will we get rabies?”
“No.”
“Alright, then. That’s good.” Joining the others at the table, the two raised their glasses. The rest followed suit.
“To Chero. Happy birthday!” Glasses clinked together and everyone was happy. Well, everyone except one of the dogs. The cake smelled too good, and now the poor thing was hungry.
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It was a little short and kind of silly, but I hope you liked it! Dedicated to Chero, even though I can only find her on the boards. Happy birthday!
