The Hot Fudge Sunday Affair
Page 11
“Eric! There you are! We’ve been looking for you!”
“Should I be honored or scared?”
“Definitely honored,” laughed Susan. “We just wanted to tell you how much we liked your article.”
“Well, I should hope so! It was all about how clever Chris and Susan Pratt are. Who could possibly find fault with something like that?”
“That’s true,” Jeff said, joining them. “I noticed that the king of Centennial Week hardly got a mention, though!”
Eric slapped Jeff on the back. “Well, my boy, let’s just say that these two here are an awfully hard act to follow.”
“By the way,” said Chris, “I’ve been meaning to ask you how you found out about Whittington’s founders being two look-alike brothers. Somehow I never came across the true story behind George.”
“Well, I could pull a Felicia Harris and tell you about what a thorough research job I did. But the truth is last Thursday evening, I simply picked up the phone and called Edna Partridge. I told her about the article I was writing and that I was looking for some kind of twist. That’s when she told me about George and William and the little game they played.”
“Speaking of Felicia,” Jeff interjected, “look who just showed up looking like she’s on her way to the country dub.”
It was true; today Felicia was decked out in crisp white shorts, a white shirt and matching sweater with bands of maroon and navy blue around the cuffs and collar, and white socks and sneakers. She looked as if she were about to say, “Tennis, anyone?”
“Hey, Felicia!” Eric called. “Come on over and split a can of root beer with your pals!”
She glanced over in their direction curiously. But as soon as she saw the four of them standing together, her expression changed to a frown. Still, she wasn’t about to ignore them. Reluctantly, she sauntered over.
“Well, hello there. If it isn’t the ghostly trio—plus the man of the hour himself. That was quite an article in this morning’s paper, Eric.”
“I was rather pleased with it, if I do say so myself. Of course,” he added, putting an arm around each of the twins, “I did have a lot to work with. Imagine how boring that article would have been if all I had to write was ‘On Wednesday the king and queen went here. On Thursday they went there.’ No, the Hot Fudge Sunday Affair definitely added an extra punch to my reporting.”
“I’m pleased everyone is so happy with how things turned out,” Felicia said dryly. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I really have to be moving along. Being the mayor’s daughter can be so demanding sometimes. But, well, you know how it is. Social responsibilities and all that.” With that she flounced off.
“Good old Felicia,” Eric sighed. “I have a feeling she’s not going to change a bit for the rest of her life. But on to more important matters.”
“Like who can eat the most hot dogs?” Susan teased.
“Hey, I happen to be a growing boy!”
“And I happen to be a growing girl!” Chris reached over for the coleslaw, piling some high on her plate.
“Better save some room for later,” her twin reminded her. “Don’t forget: You and I have a date!”
“Oh, I haven’t forgotten. I’m just getting warmed up.”
Eric and Jeff exchanged quizzical glances.
“What kind of date?” asked Jeff. “I thought maybe the four of us could go somewhere together after this picnic. For a drive or out to a movie ...”
“It sounds good,” Chris said, “but Sooz here and I have already made plans for later on.” When the two boys looked crestfallen, she went on, “Come on, you guys! You seem to have forgotten what this week has been all about!”
“What do you mean?”
“Just that Chris and I have been planning our own little celebration to mark the end of Centennial Week. Of course,” she added, “it was all based on the assumption that a celebration would be in order. And I think we deserve a pat on the back. What do you think, Chris?”
“Oh, definitely! You and I deserve a reward. But even though this was supposed to be a private celebration, I think we can make an exception in this case. Agreed?”
“Agreed!”
“Pardon me, you two,” Jeff interrupted, “but would you mind telling us what you’re talking about?”
Chris and Susan burst out laughing.
“It’s simple,” said Chris. “Sooz and I are inviting you and Eric to join us at Fozzy’s....”
“We’d love to!” Eric broke in. “And I think I can even guess what’s on the menu.”
“Hot fudge sundaes!” all four cried in unison.
Copyright © 1985 by Cynthia Blair
Originally published by Fawcett Juniper (ISBN 0449701581)
Electronically published in 2014 by Belgrave House
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
No portion of this book may be reprinted in whole or in part, by printing, faxing, E-mail, copying electronically or by any other means without permission of the publisher. For more information, contact Belgrave House, 190 Belgrave Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94117-4228
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This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.