Birthday Ball
It's just celebration after celebration in this family! The third week of summer is starting, and Ella's birthday is up next- soon Alyssa and Henry will have an empty nest. An odd thought for them, but not one that's on Ella's mind. She wants to have a ball- a formal dance in Willow Creek, worthy of the royal family themselves. And considering it's somehow no more expensive than any of her other parties, her parents are happy to provide it.
Alyssa spends the day before the party preparing a gourmet spread of appetizers and desserts. They booked the party for Monday evening, at the Blue Velvet Ballroom in Willow Creek. It'll be a coming of age worth remembering.
After a day spent cooking, the family sat down together for dinner. Alyssa had sent out invitations to the extended family, and Ella had invited her friend Kit. He had suggested they go bowling together before the party, and she had happily agreed.
"Do you plan to move out right away, Ella?" Alyssa asked her daughter as they ate dinner together.
"I think so." Ella admitted. "I want to go to Ciudad Enamorada. There's a property there that would make a nice location for a little cafe, I think. It comes with an apartment upstairs."
Alyssa smiled sadly. "That sounds lovely, dear. But we will miss you greatly."
"I'll miss you too, Mama, but you'll just have to come and visit!"
As the evening wound down, Alyssa took some time to play her violin in the art studio while Ella experimented with pottery. It was a peaceful way to finish a busy day of preparations, and a nice way to spend time together.
Early in the morning, Ella met Kit at the arcade. They'd both been busy, and it was the first time they'd gotten to hang out in a while.
"Your birthday's coming up too, isn't it?" Ella asked him. "What're you going to do after graduation?"
"I actually have a job offer." Kit answered. "At Concerned Citizens of San Myshuno, they've asked me to come on as an Activist. I'll probably be moving for it."
"That's great! Your volunteer work paid off?"
"Seems like it, yeah!"
Ella left the arcade a little after noon, hurrying home to get ready. Her prom dress would do nicely for one final party.
As usual, they arrive early at the venue to get everything ready. The music was already playing, and it promised to be a wonderful night. Alyssa had outdone herself with the food, a gourmet spread fit for royalty.
The guests began to arrive not long after that, including Ava, who Ella hadn't seen since Winterfest! Her big sister had been so busy, off at university, there hadn't been time to come home and visit.
Ella was over the moon to see her, there was so much they had to catch up on. But that would have to wait a little longer, there were lots of other people to greet as well.
It soon came time for Ella to blow out her candles, and the resulting self discoveries that came with it. (Magical, isn't it?)
Ella had always had a fondness for animals, but especially for cats even despite never owning one. This manifested in her final defining trait, Cat Lover. Alyssa and Henry's excellent parenting had left her Compassionate and Well Mannered, and to top it off, her diligent studies saw her graduating as class Valedictorian.
She'd have to make sure she prepared a stunning speech for graduation on Sunday!
For now, though, it was time to enjoy her cake and catch up with Ava and her cousins. Liliana's engagement was the talk of the party for a while, before moving on to Eirwen's new business and Leia's affair with the Grim Reaper. None of their parents knew yet, but that bit of gossip had spread like wildfire amongst the cousins.
Finally, when the discussion circled back to Ella's plans, she made her announcement: She was moving to Ciudad Enamorada.
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