Downstairs

After this unpleasant experience, I cleaned myself up as best I could and hurried to the exit.

Lucky for me, I quickly found the stairs leading down. But halfway down, I came to a stop. Down there in the lobby, a shadow was lurking. Oh, no, not again...

I wondered whether I should turn back. Then I heard a familiar boy's voice.

“Thank God, you're still here. I was afraid you'd gone home.”

Fred? What was he doing here? I was lost for words.

I smiled when I noticed that he had tried to dress up to match my costume as Fred from the Scooby-Doo gang, including the red ascot tie—but he had only been moderately successful.

“Please don't be mad at me,” he said, rather sheepishly. “I mixed up the addresses and sent you to the wrong house. The party is at the other end of the street. If you like, I can walk you there.”

I looked down at him. He looked up at me. But where exactly was he looking? His eyes seemed to be glued to the area below my belly button.

He swallowed hard and turned bright red.

“Oh, Fred!” I exclaimed with relief. “I'm so happy to see you.”

I virtually flew down the steps and threw myself into an embrace.