Jay's Fantastical Sleepover Extravaganza

At the end of the pathway, sprawling mammoth of a building stood in front of Kenji and the others. He’d call it a house, but it looked more like a neighborhood. The oaks and maples flanking its sides barely reached the rooftop. Standing in the presence of this megamansion intimidated Kenji, and looking around, he wasn’t the only one.

Nicky’s mouth parted open as he craned his head upward; had he not been holding the other umbrella, he’d be drinking rain. Toni clutched his arm, cowering behind him as his large brown eyes took in the sight. Higgy gulped, intently staring, though he might just still be in shock from getting to meet Jay. Even Benji had to adjust his glasses to make sure he was seeing things right.

“This place is huge!” Maxy said what they were all thinking.

“That’s what I’m sayin’.” Benji agreed.

Jay chuckled. “It is, innit?” He looked back toward the others, then came to a stop, leaning against his parasol. “Is somefing wrong?”

Stanley smiled. “They’re all just a little shocked at the size of your house. They’ll get over it.”

“Yeah, it’s no big deal.” Benji tried to play it cool. “The Bakery is about this big if you break it in two and put the halves side by side.”

“The Bakery is an office building.” Higgy hadn’t lost all of his sass.

“Ohhh, I understand, heheh. It took a right minute for me to get used to this place.” Jay turned around and kept walking. “Right this way, gentlemen.”

The others followed. Just over the rain, Kenji could hear Toni and Maxy bicker over the number of times their house could fit inside Jay’s. Higgy shushed them both.

Stanley looked over his shoulder. “What do you think about the bushes, Kenji?”

“Tasty?” Benji snickered, joined by his husband.

“Ha ha.” There weren’t even any plants around that Kenji could eat. Not that he would. All of them were trimmed to such perfection that plucking one leaf would probably ruin some gardener’s hard work. He decided to voice his admiration loud enough for Jay to hear. “These shrubs are really nicely manicured.”

“Ohoho, what would I be wivout me maintenance staff? I’ll pass that on to them.” Jay’s parasol twisted back and forth. “I’m sure they’d love to hear a compliment from someone else for once.”

“You don’t get visitors often?” asked Nicky.

“No, no.” A small canopy lay just ahead of Jay. “In fact, you all are very, very special! I’ll tell you why, but first–”

Stepping into the canopy, he gently set down the cage containing Gumbo before prancing to the front door. Out from his suit he fished a set of keys to unlock it. He opened the door, placed his snake inside, and held it open for everyone else.

Higgy stopped in his tracks, preventing Nicky and the rest of his group from continuing forward. As Kenji’s group caught up to them, he noticed Higgy’s eyes were wide and filled with uncharacteristic uncertainty.

“Come in, come in!” Jay urged.

“Might as well go on.” Maxy leaned dangerously close to Higgy. “He’s not gonna think you’re any cooler if you get soaked out here.”

“You can do it!” Nicky cheered.

“Don’t feel bad.” Toni’s voice could barely be heard over rain hitting fabric. “I’m scared, too.”

“I’m not scared.” Higgy spoke through his teeth. After a deep breath, he power walked forward with his nose held high.

“That’s the Higgy I remember.” Stanley shook his head, smiling.

Benji chuckled. “Poor kid’s gonna combust.”

“I’m sure he’s not the only one…”

Hinito and Maxy entered the house, thanking Jay along the way. Behind them, Kenji escorted the older couple into the canopy. He stopped to close his umbrella as they went inside, but just as his luck would have it, the stubborn thing wouldn’t close.

He glanced up to see Jay continuing to hold open the door for him. “You can go inside if you want. I’ll be in in a moment.”

“Oh no, I don’t mind waiting for you. Not at all.”

Jay seemed content watching Kenji fight with the umbrella, though at one point, he began to look around, alert.

Kenji finally closed the umbrella. “Sorry for taking so long. …Is something the matter?”

“Oh, no, no, hahahaha.” His nervous laughter wasn’t the most convincing. “There’s nofing to worry about, I’m just a little… Erm, why don’t you come in? Heheh.”

Kenji did as told, but not without being a little on edge. He took a quick look at the surroundings, but couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

Once inside, a new fear arose. The group stood inside a pristine, grandiose hall with stairs and a ceiling so tall it made those as tall as him and Nicky feel like ants. A crimson velvet rug soaked up their dirty shoes. Beyond it, a marble floor whiter than Benji’s hair, polished enough for Higgy to self-consciously preen himself in its reflection. In the area were paintings and ceramics fit for a museum. Nearby was Maxy Konno. A rapid series of scenarios assaulted Kenji’s mind, all of them involving Maxy damaging or somehow destroying Jay’s highly expensive furniture. The more he thought about it, all of them ran a risk of doing so. Even himself.

“Do we take our shoes off, or…?” Higgy turned to Stanley.

“Don’t ask me, I’ve never been in here.”

Judging by how calm Stanley looked outside, Kenji would’ve assumed otherwise. Just then, someone bumped into Kenji, knocking him out of his thoughts.

Jay jumped. “Oh dearie me, sorry, sorry! I was just– The door, I erm–”

“You’re fine.”

“Aheheh, ahem,” he regained composure, “excuse me.”

Kenji watched his fingers nimbly fasten a complicated series of locks. Impressive, considering they were gloved. Jay then slipped on a pair of house shoes and frolicked to the front of the group.

“So!” He put his hands together. “As esteemed guests, I’d like to welcome you to me… abode! I would’ve called it a ‘umble abode, but,” he drummed his fingers together, “eh, let’s face it, I’d sound a right donkey doing so. Anyway, what makes you all so special is, you’re actually the first guests. That aren’t family, anyway. Me mum an’ dad stopped by when I first got it, and me sista visits from time to time. But other than that, you’re the first!”

The boys looked at each other, astonished.

“You mean to tell me you don’t throw any wild parties here?” joked Benji.

“No, no, I’m not much of a party animal.” Jay placed his parasol in a nearby holder before taking Nicky’s and Kenji’s to do the same. “I’d love to socialize more, but so many people at one time can be a bit disorienting. Besides, I try not to give the press any more reasons to be in me business than usual, aha! Maybe I’ll invite more people someday, but… May I take your coats?”

“Sure thing.” Stanley handed his over first.

Benji followed suit. “Thanks, kid.”

“You’re most welcome.”

Jay neatly hung their raincoats on a series of hooks nearby the umbrella holder. Maxy and Nicky were the next to hand over theirs. After a wholly unnecessary display of taking off his jacket, Higgy handed it off. His bravado melted away as he humbly offered Jay his thanks. Toni had become too preoccupied with Gumbo to notice Jay behind him.

“Excuse me?” the host called gently.

“Toni, give him your jacket!” Maxy called, not so gently.

“Ah, Jay!” Toni nearly jumped out of his raincoat. “I mean, Mr. Jay. I mean–”

“Please, don’t feel the need to be so formal around me.”

“He’s just kinda like that.” explained Maxy.

“Toni is very polite.” Nicky chimed in. “It can take him a while to be informal.”

Stanley smiled knowingly. “Reminds me of someone else.”

That could’ve very well been directed at Kenji, but he didn’t know for sure.

“I-I can be not-formal!” A tinge of red rose under Toni’s freckles. He took off his raincoat and handed it to Jay. “Thank you very much.”

“You’re very welcome… Toni. Did I get that right?”

He nodded enthusiastically.

“Haha! Jolly good, then.” Jay clasped his hands together, so serene when he talked to the others. Kenji felt a little bad for making him so nervous, but he couldn’t help it in the same way that Jay couldn’t help making Higgy and Toni jumpy. “Kenji, would you like me to take your coat?”

Aside from a few drops of rain on his shoulder, Kenji’s suit jacket didn’t get wet. He thought about how much the boys freaked out when they saw him without one. “No thank you, I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?”

Kenji nodded.

“Suit yourself. Aha! Suit, like the one you’re wearing!” Jay noticed his own pun, though not before Nicky flashed the most delighted grin in Kenji’s direction.

Kenji didn’t have the heart to groan, and from the looks of it, neither did Higgy.

The host picked up his snake cage. “I ‘ave to go return Gumbo to ‘er tank. There should be a box of shoe coverings to your right. If you would please put those on?” Jay hustled over to a nearby door with a… padlock? He unlocked it. “I should be back in just a moment. Toodeloo~”