“We're off,” said Mrs. Merrick to Joshua and Karen.

“Have a good time,” said Karen.

Joshua added, “Have fun.”

“Looks like a nice, quiet way to spend New Year's Eve,” noted his father. He looked at the puzzle they were completing.

“Not sure if we'll finish, though,” answered Karen with a smile. “There's a thousand pieces.”

Mr. Merrick laughed and bid them goodnight as he and Mrs. Merrick left. Joshua and Karen watched them through the living room window as they pulled from the driveway. Then, they returned their attention to the puzzle.

“I agree with your Dad,” said Karen. “This is a nice, quiet way to pass the evening.”

“It's nice to relax and ponder the past year and wonder what the new year will bring,” said Joshua as he fit together a puzzle piece.

Karen leaned back and glanced at the woodstove. “It'll start off warm and cozy!”

Joshua smiled and was about to respond, but his phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Buckwheat. It's Davy. Happy New Year!”

“Happy New Year, Batman!” said Joshua, holding the phone near so Karen could listen. “What's going on?”

“Not the power,” grumbled Davy. “I'm here with Honeybuns babysitting Little Jimmy at her place. We're burning birthday candles right now.”

“The power went out?” asked Karen. “What happened?”

“A big tree branch took out a power line down the street,” said Davy.

“Why don't you come over here?” asked Joshua. “Karen and I are working on a puzzle.”

“Sounds like a plan,” said Davy. “Honeybuns, what do you think? . . . What? . . . She's going to call Little Jimmy's parents to let them know. I'll call you back soon.”

“Sounds good. Talk to you in a bit,” replied Joshua as he hung up.

“This might turn out to be a not-so-quiet evening after all,” said Karen.

Joshua nodded. “If nothing else, it will be an exciting one,” he replied just as his phone rang. “Hello?”

“Buckwheat. It's Davy. We cleared it with Little Jimmy's parents. We'll be over in a few minutes.”

“Sounds good,” replied Joshua. “We'll see you soon!” He hung up and said to Karen, “I should let Mom and Dad know.” 

She agreed. “I'm sure they will appreciate the warning just in case they decide to come home early.”

Joshua smiled as he dialed his parents' number. “Mom, Davy and Pat are coming over with Little Jimmy because they lost power at her house. . . . What? . . . Ok, that's a good idea. Good night!”

“What?” asked Karen.

“Mom said we should hide the ice cream before Davy gets here.”

“Good idea,” said Karen. “How about your car's trunk? He'll never find it there!”

They grabbed both boxes of ice cream from the freezer. Then, they ran outside to hide it in the trunk before running back to the warm house.

“BRRRR! Chilly one tonight!” exclaimed Karen. She warmed herself up by the woodstove.

Just then, Joshua's cell phone rang. “Hello?”

“Buckwheat. It's Davy. We found out that the power is out at Creampuff's house. So we're bringing her too.”

“They're bringing Alycia, too,” Joshua explained to Karen.

She smiled and nodded. “Things are going to get lively tonight.”

“Sounds good,” Joshua replied to Davy. “We'll see you in a bit.” After he hung up, he gave a happy sigh. “You're right. This definitely won't be a quiet evening after all.”

Karen giggled and put her arm around him. “Probably not, but it will be an exciting one.”