The boys had finally arrived in Storrs and met Petra at the local shopping center. She placed her bike in the back of the Monkeemobile and gave them directions to her grandmother's house.
Their grandmother was hip to the scene. She often split her time between Connecticut and the Village in New York. She was 100% behind Peter's choice to go to California, much to her son's dismay. She always wondered how she, being such a free spirit, could have such a stuffed shirt son.
Anyway, Petra had gotten her OK to let the boys stay in her home while they thought of a way to get Peter to come back. As they drove into the drive way of her grandmother's home, Petra stiffened a bit.
"What's wrong?" Micky asked noticing the change in the young girl's behavior.
"Oh, that's Mrs. Irma Seymore. She's always being nosy," Petra answered. "But don't worry, I can handle this."
After they parked the car in the back, they all followed Petra to the back door. Just as Petra put the key in the door...
"Why, hello Petra. You know Gertie isn't home. What are you doing here and who do you have with you?" Mrs. Seymore asked eying the boys up and down.
"Oh, hi, Mrs. Seymore! How are you? Yeah, gram said that these guys could crash--uh, stay at her house for awhile. These are Peter's friends . That's Mike, Micky, and Davy. They're here from California," Petra explained.
"So, what brings you boys all the way here?" Mrs Seymore asked.
"Well, ya see. Uh, don't let this get out to Peter about his friends being here and all on account that this is a surprise." Petra said.
"What type of a surprise exactly?" Mrs. Seymore asked becoming suspicious.
"The guys are doing this on account of it's Peter's birthday," Petra answered. The guys looked at each other. What was she saying about a birthday?
"Humph," Mrs. Seymore sniffed. "Gertie has told me more times than I can remember that Peter's birthday is February 13. The day before Valentines's day." Mrs. Seymore was beginning to get even more suspicious.
"Oh, did she say Peter? We...she meant Micky. Ya see that's his middle name too, Peter," Mike jumped in. (Micky has a shocked look on his face upon hearing this.)
"Seems a ways to come to celebrate your birthday, young man," Mrs. Seymore sniffed as she peered at Micky over her glasses.
"It, uh, it's a tradition that we started out in California. We're always together on our birthdays!" Micky managed to stammer out.
"Very well then. I suppose Gertie knows what she's doing. But young men, this is a quiet and respectable neighborhood. We do not tolerate any loud noise," Mrs. Seymore said sternly.
"Oh gracious no. We'll be quiet. In fact, you will not even know we're 'ere. I assure you, dear madam, we will be model neighbors on your luvly street," Davy said pouring on the English charm.
"Well...in that case, do enjoy your stay and if I can be of any help, just let me know. I live just next door," Mrs. Seymore said suddenly taking on the persona of a school-girl due to Davy's charms. "I'll leave you to yourselves. Have a nice evening." As Mrs. Seymore left she batted her eyes at Davy and Davy returned an exaggerated smile.
"Way to go Davy-boy," Micky kidded once they were inside.
"All I can say is we got to focus on gettin' Peter back and not gettin' Davy a girlfriend," Mike snickered .
"Cut it out guys," Davy said.
"I don't care what they say. That was great. You got on her good side!" Petra said
"Speaking of "good sides," where did you get that idea about a birthday celebration?," Micky asked Petra.
"When you have a father, mother and big brother, ya have to learn to think on your feet," Petra smiled.
Once Petra showed the boys where everything was in the house, the guys settled in. Petra pulled her bike from the Monkeemobile and happily peddled home.
Chapter 8
Chapter 10
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