"I don't know, I don't think putting melted chocolate in her hair will get rid of all that blue," Julia said, logically, looking sadly at my head.

"Well it can't hurt can it?" Stella answered.

"I'm not sure it's worth losing all that chocolate," Mary said with her eyes glued to the 'donation' pile mounting on the writing desk.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures," Stella answered, "I think I'll melt some. I brought a burner and pan with me. You never know when you'll need one...or both, I guess. Plus this way we can make our hot cocoa without hazarding a confrontation with the guys downstairs."

"Why don't you add some brown sugar, and coffee grounds while you're at it, maybe even some raisins," Julia said sarcastically.

"Umm, I don't know about the coffee, but I'm totally up for the other two. Hang on, I'll have to go downstairs to get them though."

"I'll go," Mary offered tearing her eyes from the sacrificial chocolate.

It was a good thing I wasn't paying any attention to this conversation.

"Hey, what do you think they're up to?" I asked the room at large, nodding my head to the window where the guys were sneaking out of the house.

"I don't know. Ask them," said Stella. She didn't seem inclined to leave her burner.

I had a little difficulty pushing open the window on the wall behind my bed, which probably hadn't been opened for a few years.

"Hey Matt, where're you all headed?" I called down to them.

"We're umm, you know, we're going over there t-to uh, and walking...and to-uh"

"Have a bonfire," Wes supplied for my stammering brother.

"A bonfire?" I asked.

"Yeah, it's the start of summer tradition."

"Tradition? How so?"

"Oh you know, a tradition is something that's...traditional, and you usually do it once a year or so," Wes said looking proud of his cleverness. "Well, that would be an annual tradition anyway-"

"I know what a tradition is," I said, but Wes wasn't listening and was instead still defining 'tradition.'

"Other traditions could even take place every day I bet," he rambled. "Like...like, um... eating. Yeah, that takes place every day."

"Eating is not a tradition dude," Asher cut in.

"Says who," said Wes.

"Says me," Asher rallied. "...and the Tooth Fairy," he added as if that would strengthen his case.

"The Tooth Fairy doesn't count for anything Ash. He doesn't have any teeth, so probably doesn't eat at all, let alone every day. Not to mention if he did eat every day he wouldn't be able to fly."

"Nonsense, birds eat every day and they fly just fine," Ash said.

"Not all birds!" Matt said.

"Most all," Asher shot back without hesitation.

"It's completely different anyway," said Wes. "Those are birds and not fairies."

"And whoever told you the Tooth Fairy was a bloke," Asher said pressing his lead. "He has to be a she. What guy in his right mind would name himself 'Tooth Fairy?'"

"I'm sure Matt wouldn't mind it, would you Matt? We could call you ToFa for short!" Wes supplied.

"I said what bloke in his 'right mind,'" Asher repeated.

"Hey, I heard that," Matt said from the front of the group, who were standing on the steps to the porch.

"Look, I'm sure the Tooth Fairy didn't even name himself. Surely his mother did. And you never know maybe 'Tooth Fairy' is a cool name in the fairy world," Wes said determined to get his point across, even though he may have lost track of what his point was exactly.

"I still reckon he's a she. I thought all fairies were 'shes's'," said Ask stubbornly.

"How could all fairies be female? Fairies couldn't even exist without male and female fairies. It's against the laws of nature."

"Well I hate to interrupt this, uh, stimulating discussion," I cut in, "but how can this bonfire be a 'start of summer' tradition if we didn't have one last year, or the year before?"

"It's our first annual bonfire," said Wes.

"But if it's your first annual bonfire, how can it be a tradition?"

"We'd love to stand and chat, but we have wood to burn," Matt said impatiently.

"Wood, that's a good idea, maybe wood would help her hair. Get it 'wood would,'" Stella said from her bed, but I chose to ignore her.

"I don't see any wood," I said. "Or marshmallow, or anything even slightly bonfire related."

"I brought a blanket!" Pete said, happy to contribute something intelligent. In all honesty, he was still riddling out the Tooth Fairies gender.

"It's all at the fire pit already. We got it all ready earlier," Wes said.

"Except for a blanket?" I said.

Wes hesitated trying to see if my last question was a trap.

"uh, yep," he finally agreed.

"Great, sounds like fun. We'll come with you," I replied referring to the girls. Better than dousing my hair with chocolate, sugar, and whatever else they might come up with.

"Come with?"

"Yeah, we'll come with you," I repeated slowly.

"Nope sorry, no can do," Matt cut in.

"And why not?"

"Because it's The Guy's Traditional, First Annual, Start of Summer Bonfire," Wes announced.

"Well, that's a mouthful. And what's with the capitals?"

"It makes it more official. But don't change the subject. Like I was saying, it's called The Guys Traditional, First Annu-"

"Don't start that again, you might get tongue-tied. And we all know that would be a tragedy."

"The key word is 'Guys,'" Wes said, pretending he didn't hear my last comment.

"Oh, well why didn't you just say so."

"We didn't get the chance," Wes mumbled.

"Well, you 'guys' have fun on your little nature walk, ok. But don't stay out too late. If you don't mind my saying it; you guys need all the beauty sleep you can get!"

I shut the window before they could start discussing if the Sand Man was a 'man,' and turned back to Julia.

"I think we'll have to put the chocolate on hold. I've got an idea."

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