Two Days Later
Amber's View

"Hold on – hold on," I said as I rushed to answer the phone - I had just gotten home from work. "Hello"
"Hey Amber it's Howie," he said in a hushed voice.
"Howie why are we whispering?" I asked whispering back to him.
"Because Rhonda's in the shower and I need to talk to you."
I found that statement only a little bit weird.
"O.K.," I said "What about?"
"Well some one we both know and love is having a birthday and I want to do something special."
"Hmm didn't AJ already have a birthday?" I asked laughing.
"You know that's not who I mean. You have to help me think of something good to do for Rhonda."
"Well I know she's never had a surprise birthday party before."
"That's a great idea. Who do we invite?"
"How about AJ."
"And who else?" Howie asked laughing.
"Uhh I really don't know anyone down here but you guys and the people I work with."
"What about some of her old friends?"
"Well," I said thinking, "the only person I can think of is Missy – they haven't seen each other in awhile."
"You think you can get a hold of her?"
"You think you could get me the number from her address book?"
"I don't know where she keeps it."
"Try in the middle drawer of her dresser underneath her pajamas."
"I can't go in her dresser," Howie said. I could just picture him blushing.
"Why not?" I asked "You've seen her naked so what the big deal about seeing her pajamas?" Now I knew he was blushing. There was a pause as Howie looked.
"Oh my god –how did you know that?
"It's a women thing," I said not telling him that's where she's kept it for as long as I've known her.
"Here it is – her number is 216-555-2701. So you'll call her for me? If she says yes, I'll pay her way down o.k."
"I'll give it my best shot."
"Good…oh…I have to go the water just stopped."
"O.K. I'll talk to ya later."
"Bye," Howie said, "and thanks."

Amber's View

"Hello" the voice on the other end of the phone answered.
"Missy?"
"Yes, who's this?"
"Hey it's Amber!" I said glad that Howie had given me the right number.
"Oh my god Amber! It's been so long since I talked to you! What's going on girl?"
"Nothing much – well actually a lot I guess. I'm living in Florida now, close by where Rhonda lives."
"I haven't talked to Rhonda recently either – there must be some pretty hot guys down there keeping you two busy," she said laughing.
"Well now that you mention it…there are. Actually that's one of the reason's I called you."
"What's up?"
"Well Rhonda's boyfriend wants to throw her a surprise birthday party and he's drafted me to help him. He asked who we should invite and I remembered how much you liked parties," I said laughing. "Besides I thought you could do a little visiting with old friends while you're here."
"You're right I do love to party – I'll be there! The only problem is how do I get there."
"Oh that's no problem her boyfriends paying for it." I said.
"A free trip - now I'm definitely there! My mom can watch Patrick for a week," Missy said talking about her three year old son.
Missy and I spent another hour on the phone before she had to leave to put Patrick to bed. "I'll set up the tickets tomorrow at lunch you can just pick them up at the main window. One of Howie's friends will be there to pick you up," I said trying to figure out who I could rope into the job of driving all the way out to the airport.
"O.K. sounds like a plan – see you in a couple of weeks then."
"Can't wait!" I said figuring out the perfect person to send to pick her up.