The time for the party started just like that. First one group showed up, than another; most bringing homemade dishes with them. Annie eyeing the Strawberry cake the elder rabbit set on the table in the backyard with all the other items, including lemonade, deviled eggs, coleslaw, pizza, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, only to name a few.
"This is almost too much" Christine said looking at the fun as Ralph opened one of the pizza boxes, handing out slices on plates.
"It's our way of saying welcome to the town" May Kotts humbly said pushing the dull knife through her cake cutting it into equal slices before setting down a plastic dome over it to keep it fresh.
"Just be sure to return the dishware when you're done." another one of the guests requested as Annie's eyes were fixated on the pink frosted cake, topped with white icing and strawberries. May noticed looking at the young dog.
"You like the cake don't you sweetie"
May smiled as the kids nodded their heads, she simply chucked, adding the cake was a family staple as some of the towns people nodded, acknowledging how good it was. one of the adults commenting it tasted even better than it looked.
Annie reached for the cake having her paw swatted away gently by Christine, reminding her to eat the real food first before the sweets, adding she could have a slice for dessert. Anie simply nodded, waiting along the other kids who were in a line to be served.
"Don't worry, there is plenty for everyone" Ralph called out serving the kiddie plates with what the kids requested. he handed Annie her paper plate as she walked off, sitting with her new friends while the adults chatted, Rosie popping half an egg into her mouth.
"I've never actually had these before" Annie confessed, holding up one of the eggs as Lily vouched for how tasty they were, adding that Mr. Corbin makes them great, watching Annie eat it.
"You should try my mom's mac n' cheese" Trica suggested feeding her baby brother Ricky as he spit a glob on the older pig; The other kids partially teasing her for it but not in bad taste.
"Times that that make me glad I'm an only child" Shannon chimed in, picking a piece of food of her plate before taking a sip from her cup of lemonade as Lily turned Annie, the youngest of the triplets striking up a conversation with her as they started discussing their hobbies.
Juniper seemed to be the smart one of the triplets and into books and reading, currently into a small book, her wireframe glasses suiting her intelligence and personality. Lily could be described as the most innocent of the three her white sundress gave off a hint of obliviousness and the most childish, being the youngest of the group and Rosie seemed the one who held them together, not as Booksmart as Juniper but had the most common sense.
A good half hour of conversation had passed by when Rosie looked up "Hey Annie, Do you mind if I use your restroom?" the eldest rabbit asked as Annie told her where it was, watching her get up and leave the table.
Annie turned to Juniper asking what she was reading, looking at the cover on the softback book it simple showed two girls about their age as she read the text 'The Underwood Cubs #23 The Wet Waterpark Mystery' in lightly colored letters
"Oh, it's a book series, it's about a group of kids who solve mysteries" Juniper explained as Annie asked if she could read it, Juniper set her brightly colored bookmark in the paperback, folding it shut; seemingly defensive about lending out her book
"You really should start from the beginning, not just jump into it" Juniper defended finally touching her food. reaching for her plastic fork and digging into her macaroni.
eventually the kids finished their plates and decided to go back for desserts and surprisingly Christine was okay with Annie putting a slice of cake on her second plate as they tuned out the adults talking about boring grown up stuff. Annie bring the fork up to her tasting the cake she was told so much about, and it did not disappoint.
"This is probably the best strawberry cake I've ever eaten" Annie admitted, digging her fork into her slice, picking up a second bite. Stanley simply finished the food on his plate, standing on the patio before tossing the plate in the bin as the kids were occupying the tables. After eating he decided to slink back inside the house as he felt a finger tapping on his back. Turning around he saw the culprit, a dark brown fox his age.
"You must be the new guy, Names Stephanie" the girl introduced herself, adding she was Ralph's kid, extending her hand as Stanley reached out shaking it and introducing himself as she nodded. telling Stanley that she wanted to invite him to the Pizza restaurant to hang out later, asking if he wanted to come. His ears basically shot up excitement his tail wagging as he stopped
"I Love to... But I have to babysit my sister" Stanley explained, telling her about how he was supposed to go to the pool with Annie and her friends, Their mom wanting Annie to be supervised as Stephanie nodded, asking if she could tag along, admitting that the pool would be better, as opposed to holding up in her dad's pizza shop, playing cards and listening to the radio.
"Yes" Stanley quickly responded surprised to this beautiful vixen was talking to him as she let out a small giggle, adding she would meet him there, adding the encounter was interesting, smiling as she walked off, Stanley checking her out as she left. He was honestly weirded out a bit by how friendly she was, along with nearly everyone in this town as opposed to other teens in the city.
He concluded that it must have been a country thing as he was not going to question it as she was already gone. Stanley looked around before forgetting why he was heading inside, turning to the kid's table, asking Annie to let him know when they wanted to go to the pool.
Annie simply nodded at him as he went inside, his first thought was to use the bathroom, heading in, closing the patio door behind him, he walked down the hall and up the stairs to the shared bathroom, turning the handle as the door opened to a sight Stanley did not expect to see.
Standing opposite of him was one of the Kotts kids, quickly pulling up her overalls as she jumped back a bit, the sound of water flushing as Stanley finally entering the room them looking at each other awkwardly. Steven eyeing this girl in a red T shirt and light blue denim overall shorts that were way too short for a girl her age to be wearing. He was the first one to speak asking what she was doing in his bathroom, and why she didn't lock the door
"Why didn't you knock" Rosie countered fastening the latches over her shoulder as Stanley looked at her with a mild of mild irritation, reminding her it was his house, and he did not know she was in there. Rosie simply smiled adding that no harm was done, seeming to forgive him rather easily.
Steven counted his blessing that he did not enter a few seconds earlier as Rosie walked to the sink, standing on a small wooden stool as Stanley extended his arm out "Here kiddo let me get that"
Steven reached for the sink knob, turning it as warm water poured from the sink faucet Rosie scrubbing her paws. as he inquired that she was one of the Kotts children as she nodded, looking at him smiling before she dried her hands leaving the room with him before smiling, seeming him rubbing his shoulder nervously.
"Don't worry I'm not gonna tattle on you" Rosie explained, understanding that what happened was an accident before inquiring about him going to the pool with Annie which Rosie heard earlier. Stanley confirmed this as she giggled
"Goodie, I just bought a new swimsuit this month I've been looking forward to wearing it's got little hearts on it" Rosie exclaimed as Stanley had never seen someone so excited about a swimsuit, though his mind drifted to the thought to that vixen Stephanie in a bikini.
"I suppose I should get started on packing a pool bag for me and Annie, Cassie offered to take us to the pool so, see you there I guess" Stanley replied as the rabbit waved
"Byyeeee" The rabbit giddily answered scuttling off as Stanley thought for a second, she was strange, the kids were a bit more chipper than back in the city. Stanley concluded it had to be another country thing, but Rosie did not seem like a bad kid, especially considering she chose to stay quiet about the bathroom incident... if only she kept to that promise. It would hard to explain how he walked in on a girl finishing up in the restroom that doesn't make him look like a creep, which was the last thing he wanted, and he wasn't.
Once the rabbit went back downstairs Stanley stopped by his room, if he was going to keep an eye on Annie at the pool he could at least listen to his music reaching for the cassette player on his dresser put it in his gym bag along with his and Annie's swimwear before heading downstair.
Eventually the party started dying down, a few people had left, and it was mostly the adults talking as Stanley took to see his parents conversating as he approached them.
"Mom, Dad, I'm going to take Annie to the pool now, is that okay" he asked as the parents seemed okay with this reminding him to make sure she waits an hour before getting in the pool. Stanley nodded, having no actual intentions of swimming.
Stanley called out to Annie and the kids letting them know they were heading to the pool. some of them agreed to meet them there as they had to go back and get their stuff. Cassie offered to lead them to the pool as Stanley saw now harm in this, being she knew the area the best out of the three of them.
Leaving the house the three walked along the wood, Cassie conversating with Annie about enjoying the time they were spending. The older canine just tuning it out. when they were out of site Stanley reached into the bag, putting his headphones on as he clipped his player to his hip.
Cassie led them through the woods and down a sidewalk eventually come to the community pool, Cassie adding it seemed like their lucky day as there was no one else in the pool. Stanley reached into the bag, pulling out Annie's swimsuit, a blue one piece, tossing it to his younger sister who caught it, heading into the changing rooms with Cassie who a small backpack on.
once the two entered the girls changing room, Stanley walked through the boys' room, not even bothering changing as once he was on the pool side he simply laid on the pool chairs, relaxing. it was about noon so the girls had a few hours to swim as they would wait for the rest of the group.
