The Prince and his Guard

The unusual breakfast.

I made my usual way downstairs for breakfast and ended up running to Emil like usual. Though it did always confuse me that he never seemed tired after he woke up.
"That's so unfair you don't get a waking up face." I told making him chuckle though I could tell he was upset. "Is this still about the friendship progress you and Teddy have so far made?"
"Yes."
"Come on. Let us get some food into us, and maybe that will help cheer you up slightly." I suggested making him give me a small smile before taking my hand into his and lead me the rest of the way downstairs
Once we reached the bowling area we saw Regina was making breakfast in her unusual way she has adapted to. I sat down in one of the chairs, with Emil joining next to me.
"This is unacceptable." He told.
"Don't worry. This is strictly a utensil shoe." She told as she held the shoe out so we could get our forks.
"That is not what he is talking about." I told grabbing the bowling pin with the syrup. "Though this will never be normal."
"Butter?" She asked as she grabbed the blue shoe and pressed a button making it come out from the back onto Emils waffle.
"My issue is not with your... casually unhygienic breakfast."
"Hey. When you are forced to turn your kitchen into a shoe counter, then you are allowed to turn your shoe counter into the kitchen."
"Who forced you to do all this Regina? Because I assume it was no one but you." I stated making her give me a funny look.
"Well my stomach turns for another matter. I am woefully behind schedule on my path to friendship with Teddy."
"Oh, Emil. Don't worry about that. Friendships just happen when they happen. I mean I'm sure your friendship with Ann took awhile to grow."
"It took a few months, and me tackling him to the ground ten times due to him always running."
"It's true. She's very good at that."
"See, it took a few months, but it grew. Yours and Teddy's will happen when it happens. Not like there's some chart for this." She explained making him smile.
"Oh, but there is." He told as he pulled a chart out of no where and begging to unfold it.
"Where the hell did you hide that?" I questioned though I didn't get a response.
"This is the friendship chart I've made for me and Teddy." He told before placing it down to show the chart.
"Did I get one? This seems very familiar."
"You did. You found it after the tenth tackle."
"Oh that's right. That was a peculiar week."
"Very." He added as we smiled towards one another.
"Oh, wow. You have really broken this thing down. Wait, what's the difference between bro and bro-bro?"
"Well, it's twice the bro." We both told since I had asked the same thing.
"Well, at least you are at chum level."
"Do you know who else I'm on chum level with?" He asked making her give him a confused look and he continued to speak. "The barista with a man bun who always puts a smiley face on my cup. I mean, it is nice, but there is no real connection there."
"I thought Skylar only did that for me."
"Welcome to chum level."
"We have waffles." I told cheering Emil up as Regina got an upset look before he continued.
"What I need is some sort of...grand gesture to take it to the level. Do you think Teddy would be would be impressed if I got a tattoo of his face on my...." he began only for Regina and me to cut him off
"No!" We both exclaimed at him, which caused him to pull his thinking face.
'This is going to go bad. It always goes bad when he gets that face.'
"Emil, if you want to do something nice for Teddy, maybe you could be the one to give him, his Fudgie the Whale ice cream cake this Saturday for his 13th birthday." Regina told as she made her way over to the coffee table.
"Oh no." I told knowing how overboard Emil can get for birthdays.
"Back up the moose cart! This Saturday is Teddy's Bakshal?" He asked as he smacked the counter making the waffle maker pop up before we made our way over to her.
"I'm assuming this Bakshal is a big deal?"
"Does a sea trout smolt in the spring?"
Regina tried to hide her confused face as she worked out if it was a yes or no.
"They do." I told before Emil spoke again.
"Of course it is a big deal. It is the momentous day that a boy becomes... a 13-year-old boy."
"It is this huge festive gathering back home. Females mostly have their own Balshal when we turn 15 as our coming of age." I explained to help with the culture differences.
"Well, then maybe I will spring for the fun veggie platter."
"Regina, I like you, but your ideas are party killers."
"I was gonna get ranch."she told as she took the magazines to the counter.
We followed behind her as Emil continued to talk.
"This is his Bakshal. It... it needs to be perfect. Something that can only be pulled off by a... pal, or dare I dream, buddy." He told as you could hear his excitement was heard in his voice. "Oh, I know. I will honour Teddy with a surprise party."
"Is that a wise idea Emil?" I questioned.
"Ohh. Teddy is not a big fan of surprises."
"Ohhh. Everyone says they do not like surprises. Even though they actually love them. It is just part of the beautiful dance of the surprise party." Emil explained.
We all heard footsteps and looked over at the stairs to see Teddy walking down, and we all have him a kind smile.
"Hey Ted...." Regina began only to be cut off by him.
"Don't even talk to me till I've had my earl grey." He told us.
Regina handed him the cup and as soon as it's in his hand the toast pops up scaring him which made him scream as he spilt the tea and dropped the cup making it break on the ground.
"I hate surprises." He told before running back upstairs.
We turned back to look at Emil and saw he had the biggest smile on his face.
"And the dance begins."
"I will admit, I did not know I was older then Teddy." I stated making Emil look towards me.
"That's right! Your birthday is Friday as well!"
"Oh and you had forgotten it." I told as I closed my eyes regretting that I spoke up. "Damn it."
"I didn't know it was your birthday this week as well Ann."
"I don't like talking about my birthday. Due to the last time Emil went extremely overboard in making the party."
"I will admit. It did not go well."
"I'm sure it will be better then years ago when he did it."
"It was last year."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"Let me do a redo for this weekend."
"I am not certain that is a good idea Emil. The party was nearly if not worse then the toga incident."
"The toga incident?" Regina questioned.
"We don't talk about it." We both told.
"But Anna, please let me try again this year. We can celebrate yours with Teddys." He pleaded as he held puppy eyes towards me.
"Fine. You get one more chance."
"Yes!"
'I feel like I have made a huge mistake.'