The Bonfire Party

Askew ran as fast as her spindly legs could carry her. She wasn't looking where she was going, or rather she was, but it was scribbled on a piece of crumpled up paper she held in her gloved hands, and she couldn't see the people as she collided with them, squealed out her apologies, and continued to run. In such a violent city, on such a violent night, anybody passing must have thought Askew had just started the fire that could be seen down the road, or lit the rockets which were scaring the neighbourhood cats and dogs.

The doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," Norie called from the kitchen to his friends, before crossing through to the front door. He opened it and tried hard to stifle a giggle as he saw Askew standing there, huffing and puffing, her hair in disarray.

"I'm...sorry...I'm...late!" She gasped, her hand on her chest, "The directions weren't too helpful," She handed the crumpled up map to Norie, who nodded in agreement at his husband's terrible map-drawing skills, "I would have asked people to show me the way, but people in your city scare me a little."

"They can be like that," Norie sighed, all-too-knowingly, "Especially when there's some sort of event, or excuse to arse about, anyweh..."

"Yes," Askew nodded, "But I found you, so it's all good! I'm happy to see that this is still the only Victorian house in the area. I'm glad nobody decided to steal the pretty idea. I like it being the only house, because only you guys deserve it." Norie blushed a little at Askew's strange compliment.

"Fanks," He smiled, "Now come on in, believe meh, it's a lot warmer in the back, and I've cooked us all some loveleh food."

"That sounds great!" Askew grinned, barging past him, "In fact," She started to mimic his Mancunian accent, "It sounds 'loveleh'..!"

"Estrella, put your mittens back on!" Called a soft voice in the back garden. The four-year-old girl with the curly black hair ran over to a short woman with pigtails.

"Okay..." She grumbled, "I was only taking them off to eat my sweets." The woman giggled.

"I know that," She smiled, "But we'll be playing with the sparklers soon, and you don't want to get yourself all scorched!"

"Pu-ny," Estrella said, rolling her eyes, "I'm not gonna get all scorched!" Puny looked down at her skeptically.

"Okay, but you know Norie'll go spare if you're not all wrapped up safe and warm tonight," She smiled, "You know what he's like."

Puny's words couldn't have been more true. Norie was incredibly nervous of most things, and when bonfire night was concerned, he panicked doubly. He worried of delinquents throwing fireworks at them, or posting them through their mailbox, and he worried that Estrella would get too excited and hurt herself, confused by the pretty colours and lights, not realising how dangerous they were. In fact, it was because of Norie's nerves that Twinkle had suggested that they hold a small bonfire party. He knew that if he gave Norie some sort of project to work for, it would calm him down and de-stress him, at least a little.

Twinkle himself was in his bedroom. He was changing his socks and shoes, because earlier, he had stupidly stood in a rather large puddle, which had soaked through and made his feet all wet and cold. Now fully prepared in huge clumpy boots, he came back down the stairs, looking forward to seeing who had arrived at the door.

"Twinkle!" Askew announced as he appeared in the garden. She ran over to him and gave him a sudden, tight squeeze. She loved how cuddly her friend was, it was a pleasant surprise to cuddle him instead of her favourite tree. As much as she loved her tree, it was nicer to cling to a man who, on more than one occasion, had been likened to a marshmallow, than the solid bark of an oak.

"Gah!" Twinkle coughed, squirming a little, "Nice to see you too, Askew love!"

"I've missed you," Askew giggled, before letting him loose and bounding over to Norie, Puny and Estrella, scrambling in a desperate attempt to grab them all in a tiny bear-hug, "In fact, I've missed all of you! I've missed this house, this little garden. I've missed even how the grass smells here. It's pretty." Twinkle raised an eyebrow.

"Norie's spent all day and night baking really nice food, we've been setting off fireworks and lighting fires and you comment on how the grass smells?" He laughed, "Well, okay! I've said it once and I'll say it again. I've never fully understood you, Askew!"

"I've never understood you either..." Askew grinned, adding, in a hushed tone, "Bird-man." She winked and flapped her arms about, mimicing the motion of flying. Both Norie and Twinkle shot each other knowing glances and blushed.

"Bird-man?" Puny asked, confusedly, "What? Is there something I should know?" She made a face, "Actually, do I even want to know?" Twinkle wandered up to her.

"I'll explain some other time," He promised, "Now...whose up for some toffee apples?" Everybody began to cheer, until Norie made an observation.

"Wait!" He cried, "We can't eat the food yet, Bella isn't here!" Both Puny and Twinkle's expressions dropped.

"But Norie..." Whined Twinkle, "I didn't eat any tea, just like you said, because you were making us all a lovely supper!" Askew and Puny looked at each other with coy smirks.

"Under the thumb, eh, Twink?" Puny grinned.

"W-tsssh!" Exclaimed Askew, copying the sound of a whip. Twinkle began to blush.

"You're all mean," He pouted. Estrella wandered over to him.

"Daaaad..." She whimpered, "Make Bella arrive now. I don't care about the supper, I just want my bloody sparklers!" Norie shot daggers at Twinkle.

"Twink!" He frowned, "She's saying the b-word again! I thought I told you not to swear in front of the kid..." Askew couldn't help herself.

"W-" She began again, but found Puny's hand upon her lips.

"Not now..." Puny warned, rolling her eyes. Norie's innocent eyes were dissapointed as he looked over at Twinkle. The truth be told, it didn't really bother him that much that Estrella was swearing, but he was just so nervous and scared about bonfire night year after year that he found it easier to worry about trivial tasks and other things when it came round, to avoid worrying about the people out there just buying fireworks as a means to make loud scary bangs or to use as dangerous weoponary.

"I'm sorry, babe," Twinkle apologised, putting an arm around Norie and kissing him on the forehead, "But please try to relax. We're all safe out here, I'm not about to let some shitheads ruin our bonfire night party." Norie smiled a little.

"You promise?" He asked.

"Yeah," Twinkle grinned, "Besides! Bella will be here any minute now, and then we can all tuck into your lovely supper..."

"SPARKLERS!" Estrella demanded. Puny started to giggle, causing her pigtails to shake in such a way that it amused Askew into dancing around her.

"And Estrella can have her sparklers..." Twinkle finished. Estrella smiled and pulled down on her beanie hat so that it covered her eyes, then began to waddle around the garden like a penguin. Unable to resist the fun, Askew followed her, doing the same.

"She's really good with her, isn't she?" Norie smiled. Twinkle chuckled a little.

"I think that's just good ol' Askew all over..." He smirked. Askew looked over at him, winked, and then made a little 'wark!' sound, trying to be more penguin-like.

Ding-dong. The bell rang again and this time Puny decided to go. She opened the door, but was more than a little surprised to find Bella standing there before her, dressed in a PVC catsuit, shivering.

"Honey!" Puny exclaimed, "You look frozen! Come on in!" She took Bella by the hand and pulled her inside. It was only then that it really dawned on her. PVC catsuit?!
"My cab took ages. Candy sends her apologies, she couldn't make it. Joe had other plans...I don't want to go into details, but it involved vegan ice cream and a lot of alone-time..." Bella exclaimed, shuddering at the thought.

"Oh, yeah..." Puny nodded, "Isn't it nearly their anniversary?"

"Yeah, I think so," Bella smiled, "Hey...where's your costume?" Puny started to laugh.

"Well, dearie," She began to explain, "You see, Halloween's over..." Bella began to panic.

"I know that, but I'm pretty sure Norie said that it was a costume party!" She shrieked, "If this is his idea of a joke..." Puny put her hands on Bella's shoulders.

"You must have heard him wrong or something, he would never do that," She replied, calmly, "But don't worry. You look fabulous, and I'm sure Twinkle wouldn't mind you borrowing a coat..." Bella smiled at the thought of being wrapped in something that simultaneously smelled of muffins, lavender and old records.

"Okay then," She smiled, "But I'm removing the cat ears." She did so, wincing a little as the black kitty ears got caught in her freshly dyed magenta hair.

"And so, then you throw the ball, and it catches the Pokemon in it!" Twinkle finished, his daughter sitting on his knee, enthralled by his explaination of how to play his favourite video-game. Puny's voice rang through the kitchen into the garden.

"Guys!" She called, "A visitor!"

"No, don't let them see me like this!" Bella hissed.

"Oh hush! It'll be fine!" Puny giggled, pushing her friend out into the garden. Everybody looked over and their jaws almost hit the floor.

"Hey, sexy lady!" Grinned Askew.

"Me-ow!" Twinkle called. Norie wandered up to Bella, politely kissing her on the cheek.

"Very surprised to see you in fanceh dress..." He admitted, "But you're lookin' loveleh." Bella blushed.

"Thankyou everybody..." She smiled, "But I'm really cold! Twink, Puny said I could borrow one of your coats?" Twinkle helped Estrella up off his knee then wandered over.

"Of course," He nodded, "Be right back!" He went to retrieve the coat and Bella tiptoed towards the swing that hung from the branch of the lone garden tree. Estrella followed her and sat beside her.

"Hi, Auntie Bella..." She waved. Bella smiled.

"How's my favourite l'il star?" She asked.

"Twinkle is good, and so am I..." Estrella giggled cheekily, "Guess what?"

"What?" Bella replied.

"I'm getting sparklers!" The child answered, flashing Bella a grin. Norie began to feel uncertain again and whimpered.

"Darling..." Puny took Norie's hand, "There is absolutely nothing to worry about. Like our Twink said, everything will be fine. Simmer down..." Norie looked at his shuffling feet.

"I'm sorreh, Pun'..." He mumbled, "I just get nervous this time of year." Puny nodded knowingly.

"I know, sweetheart," She said, "But that's never going to happen again, is it?"

"I know..." Norie whispered, feeling tears prickle the corner of his eyes. Puny pulled him into a hug, then, as she saw Twinkle return back into the garden, motioned with her hand for him to take his place, which he did so gladly. Puny took the coat over to Bella.

"Here you go, Catwoman..." She chuckled, "Aww, look. It's Twinkle's Winter coat. He must really love you." Bella bit her bottom lip and took the coat, enveloping herself in it happily. Sure enough, there was that lavender scent.

"I love you..." Norie whispered in Twinkle's ear as they hugged. Twinkle kissed him on the cheek.

"Love you too, gorgeous," He replied, "Please calm down. Everybody's here now, we can start the party!" Norie giggled at him.

"Party started about an hour ago, you div'..." He smiled. Twinkle blushed and squirmed.

"Yeah, but...it's not a party without sweets!" He cried, "I'm dying here, babe. Please, just one toffee apple...pleasepleaseplease?" Norie took one look into those big blue eyes and couldn't refuse.

"Ohhhh, go on then!" He laughed, playfully shoving Twinkle, "And fetch the sparklers too." He looked over at Estrella, who nearly lit up herself with the excitement.

Some minutes later, and the garden was glowing with the lights of five sparklers, each drawing pretty patterns, or writing names into the cold night air. Estrella, despite having been so looking forward to using her sparkler, was a little dubious, and held it as far away as she could possibly manage, barely even moving it. Norie stood behind her and took her arm, helping her write her name with the stick.

"See, it isn't so scary after all," He smiled, then, one by one, the lights died as she sparklers crackled and fizzed out. Each of them tossed the used sparklers into the bonfire.

"I liked that," Estrella grinned, before dashing through to the kitchen to fetch herself some cinder toffee.

Soon after, their excitement fulfilled by the distant colours and squeals of fireworks elsewhere in London, and their bellies full of warm and sugar-coated treats, the five of them were huddled up around the bonfire, all flopped and snuggled together, their faces glowing warm from the yellow and orange flame that sat in the middle of them.

"Ahhh..." Twinkle sighed happily, "That was one of the best bonfire nights ever."

Everybody, aside from Estrella, mumbled sleepily in agreement. She had already burnt out, lying asleep on Norie's knee.

"I really like coming to the Victorian house..." Yawned Askew, "It makes me think of pretty things."

"Me too," Bella agreed, her eyes wandering, for a moment, toward Twinkle.

"I love it when we all meet up and do stuff together," Puny admitted, "Kinda makes all those twats out there and the crap that goes on in the world dissapear, doesn't it?"

"Definately..." Norie nodded.

"Yeah, I love you guys," Bella giggled.

"Me too," Askew joined in, "Look at us. We're a regular little posse, aren't we?"

"That's what they should call us..." Twinkle noted, with a chuckle.

The five friends all turned their attentions to the sky, which was shifting between blue, to black, to orange and red, and as their bonfire began to dull, and their eyes grew even wearier, they each of them, had never felt happier.

The End.