United Friends Challenge #32 - A Treasure of Friends & Memories...

Well, it's been a while since I've contributed... I even missed one of my own challenges. Well... Since my next challenge is going to be posted tomorrow... I decided to do the current one... besides, I miss doing these! :)

UFC is comprised of some very talented authors... some, like myself,  are just mere amateurs... 

We were not forced into this, but rather invited by others... I personally love this group, because writing a passion of mine... I especially like the fact it can be fiction.

With that said...

Here's the current challenge... proposed by Sunshine at Midnight...

Create a story/poem using at least two of the following random items:
Aardvark, bubble wrap, tongue, treasure chest, paint brush, kaleidoscope, postcard, clicky pen, balloon, dictionary.

(I'm going to try to use all the words!)

CLICK HERE other submissions!

A Treasure of Friends & Memories 
by Lady Harley
(Fiction)

To my delight one Monday morning I received a postcard from old high school friend, Cathy. The picture was of breathtaking sunset with the beach at the front & in the background a snowy mountain top.

The caption on the back read "Avilia Beach, Ca".

In her eloquent handwriting, Cathy wrote:

"I know it's been a long time since we've talked... However, if you're up to it, come join me... Details to soon follow." Loving hugs, Cathy.

Cathy is more of an adventurist than I am, so I had not clue as to why all of a sudden she sent me, of all people, an invite to come see her over 2000 miles away.

Later that day I received a package with Cathy's name & address as a return address. I quickly found the scissors & opened it up, hoping to find out what the mystery was all about.

Inside wrapped carefully in bubble wrap was a miniature treasure chest. My curiosity was peaked even more when I saw the lock on it... I frantically searched through the brown packaged paper to see if I missed the key.

A few minutes later, my husband, Scott arrived home from work to find me crawling on my knees combing the floor for the elusive key.

"What ya looking for?" he asked. I stood up & showed him the items I received.

Pulling an envelope out of his suit pocket he quipped, "I wonder if this will fit. I received this at the office & couldn't for the life of me figure out why your friend Cathy sent me a key."

"Oh that little stinker. Here I thought I was loosing my mind!"

"Well then, I guess you should go see what Cathy is up to!" Scott smirked.

Sticking my tongue out at him, I replied, "Not before I open this treasure chest!"

Practically ripping the envelope in half a chain with a tiny key on the end of it.

I couldn't believe how bad I was shaking from pure excitement. I finally managed to get the lock open & then I removed it slowly from the box.

My husband squawked, "What? Now you're going to be calm? Just open it already!"

I glanced at him & said, "I'm just trying to prolong the anticipation! Once it's open the surprise is over."

"Knowing Cathy, I have a feeling it's only just begun."

To antagonize my husband even more I slowly opened the treasure chest. Once the contents were finally revealed, my mouth dropped.

Staring at the paper, I said, "It can't be!"

"You'll never know..." cutting him off I hurried up & picked up the paper inside...

Sure enough it was a plane ticket to California, with my name on it!

Seeing my eyes widen & my smile even bigger my husband reached around me & grabbed it out of my hand. "Where's mine?" He whined.

Snatching it back & said, "She must just want it to be a girl's only thing!" But then, I flipped through a little bit more of the paperwork & sure enough, there was another ticket in Scott's name.

Sticking his tongue out at me, he said, "I guess she loves me too!"

While I was looking for something to explain it all, Scott turned his attention back to the treasure chest to see if Cathy included any other clues.

He turned it over & out spilled a little bit of sand, a balloon & a piece of paper.

"I hope you're going to clean that up." I said as I grabbed the paper, in hopes for explanation.

Unfortunately it only led to more questions. For it said:

'Join me for a kaleidoscope of colors & to plop your toes into the Pacific Ocean. Don't miss your flight! We'll have a weekend to remember. Loving hugs, Cathy

P.S. Don't forget your camera!'

I looked at the tickets again & realized the flight left that Thursday morning. Turning to Scott I saw he was about to make a call on his cell phone.

"Can you get off work with that short of notice?"

"I'm sure I could. Boss has been telling me to take a break. I'm calling him right now."

Moments later we were both up in our room pulling out the suitcases & started to pack for what would be a whirlwind adventure.

I thought Thursday morning would never arrive.

To put my excitement to good use, Scott hands me a paintbrush & said "Here! Let's paint the guest room. You said you were going to do it this weekend. Since we won't be here, you better do it now. You know how you are after spending time with Cathy. Besides, it will make the time go by faster."

Before I knew it we were in the air on our way to the Golden State.

"I wish Cathy would have given us a number to reach her, so we could let her know we accepted her generous offer." I mumbled to Scott on the plane.

"Oh, I bet she had no doubt you'd accept. She's probably going to be waiting at the airport for us."

Scott was right, Cathy was standing in front of all the other folks waiting for other passengers.

After the hellos & hugs, I asked Cathy, "What's with all the secrecy?"

"Oh, you'll see!" She giggled. Then she turned & grabbed the arm of a very handsome man next to her & exclaimed, "This is my husband Cameron. Cameron this is Michelle & Scott. Michelle was my best-est friend in high school. Her & Scott were high school sweethearts. They also were Prom Queen & King. We all envied their love. Of course now I know what it feels like to find your soul mate."

Giving a firm handshake I joked with Cameron, "We didn't pay her to say that!"

We all laughed as we walked to get our luggage. While the men waited, Cathy pulled me aside & filled me in a little bit.

"Ok, I have to tell you what's going on, but I don't want Scott to know."

I nodded in agreement & she continued. "Do you remember what this Saturday is?"

I stood there for a moment & tried to recall the date in my head... "Aww, come on Cathy, you know I can't think when I am tired. Not to mention jet lagged!"

"Think back to twenty years ago."

"Oh my goodness! Has it been that long already? I totally forgot!"

Before I could ask any more questions she started in with the details of our upcoming 20 Year Class Reunion.

"Did you front the tickets for everyone?" I asked.

"Are you nuts? No, just for you & Scott. I wanted to be sure you 2 made it & I wanted you here a day early so you could relax & we could catch up. But I did send everyone a postcard & a treasure chest. Yours was the only one with tickets. The rest just got a miniature mascot & details about the event.

We have had 17 of the 29 class members confirm. The other 9 have either passed away or just could not swing it financially. I even invited Mr. Stevenson & Mrs. Hanson & their significant others. They both accepted! So, we will have at least 40 people arriving late tomorrow & early Saturday."

"Wow, Cathy, did you plan all this on your own?"

"I had Cameron, of course, plus a couple friends. The hardest part was finding toy aardvarks, wrapping & mailing over 30 of them treasure chest. It was received well by all."

By that time Scott & Cameron had retrieved our bags. They led us to their car & we stayed with them.

Cameron kept Scott busy with golfing & other male bonding activities while Cathy & I greeted other classmates at the airport.

Late, Saturday afternoon I stepped out of the guest bathroom in my pink evening gown & my husband come up to me & said, "If I wasn't already married, I'd ask you out right now." Then he stepped back & asked, "What have you & Cathy been up to? Did I forget our anniversary or something?"

I chuckled, "Or something. Trust me, you wouldn't forget our anniversary!"

We met our host's in their Great Room & then they we all climbed into the waiting limo outside.

"Wow Cathy!" Scott exclaimed, "You had us at hello."

We all laughed. Then that led to story after story about the good old days.

Cameron asked, "Why aardvarks for a mascot?"

We all looked at each other & started to laugh again. Cameron was even more baffled & inquired again, "I don't get, what's so funny about aardvark?"

Scott then told him the story behind the story...

"I don't know who came up with an aardvark for a mascot... but Arvie the Aardvark has seen his share of pranks.

Our football team tried to steal the rival team's tiger mascot. Because they all chickened out at the last minute, they decided to paint our school mascot, being an aardvark. Trying make it look like a tiger so that the rival school would get blamed, they painted stripes on it.

The next morning the team arrived to see that probably should have had lights on their project, because it was not orange & white... but rather hot pink & lime green.

Because only one store in the area carried those colors & it belonged to the QB's father, coach knew right away our team were the culprits. We found out later that the QB was color blind!"

When the limo reached it's destination we were all laughing so hard we were crying. Cameron & Scott helped us ladies out.

As we walked toward the ballroom Scott heard some familiar voices & he smacked his head & said "Oh my, how did I forget? Our class reunion!" He turned to me & asked, "Did you know about this?"

"Not until we arrived." I replied. He then gave me a big hug & said "Well, it's been 20 years since we've graduated... You know what that means."

"Yeah, we're getting old!" Cathy interjected. "Come on, they're all waiting for us!"

I was amazed at the transformation of the drab room I sat in just 2 days earlier trying to figure out how we'd cover up some of the stains on the walls & carpet.

We reached our table & saw that the hotel had placed a little notebook & a clicky pen on each plate.

On Cathy's plate was a note: "Since the majority of your guests have traveled a great distance to get here & that you have a small class... we have included these notebooks & pens to allow you to obtain each others contact information. We hope you'll return for future reunions. Thank you for your business."

After she showed me the note, I giggled, "Why didn't we think of that?"

We spent the rest of the evening catching up with all our friends & telling story after story about the good old days at "Central High".

When the sun was setting, Cathy gathered everyone out by the beach for a class photo.

She was right. It was a kaleidoscope of colors!

*****
Not only did I use a dictionary for this story... but also a Thesaurus... (Had to sneak that last 2 words in there some how! LOL)