Open to Guests! Posted for Friday
Charlie was bent low as about a dozen tiny hands grabbed, pinched, clambered, and tugged all about him. The moment his niece had begged for a piggy back, a line of ready and willing riders assembled at his table. It was a good thing that Penelope's party was taking place in a park with a nice, grassy area to play about, because his knees would've not only been stained green, but bruised from a hardwood floor.

"Okay, okay," he let out with a breath of exhaustion, standing to his full height (he had to grab hold of Terry Boot's tightly clenched hands as he raised him a foot off the ground). "I need a break. And a drink. Go chase the dog!"

At the sound of DOG, the gaggle of children rushed after Pascal, who had been sitting beside Charlie's older brother as he not so discreetly fed him off the table. Charlie left his jacket folded over the back of the chair on the children's table and made his way over to Penny, loosening his tie. He'd really wanted to look spiffy for this night, but maybe keeping her off her guard, like he wasn't planning on asking her the most important question he'd ever ask anyone, would make this night easier.

"I managed a good half an hour before getting dirty," he said, putting his hands out to take hold of hers, "Are you proud?"