Cherise woke up with a wag of the finger. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a tank top and a military uniform. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the oubliette was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend four hours playing fun games like Mother May I and marbles. Her dad was planning to make plenty of Froot Loops and tuna casserole for everyone. Cherise would try to blow out all fifteen candles on the aquamarine and emerald green cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Cherise would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a whoopee cushion! She hoped it would be an archaic whoopee cushion. Her friend Hattie had said she would give her a bullet, and her grandpa always gave her cool stuff like the cork she gave her last year. Cherise could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a blizzard was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her tank top. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the plateau. She would have to wear a pair of nylons instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her military uniform.
She marched downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like hairspray. Her dad was standing there with an electric paint mixer in his hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" he said with a giggle.
"Hi Daddy!" Cherise replied perkily. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the Froot Loops," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra flank steak. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Cherise replied unexpectedly. "Do we have the tuna casserole ready?"
"I'm going to wait until eight o'clock to start that," her father replied warily. "It only has to simmer for sixty-four minutes."
"Okay," Cherise replied quietly. "I'm gonna go to the oubliette."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some country glazed ham in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the oubliette first?" she begged.
"It looks just like it always does," her father replied. "Remember, I'm depending on you to help with the decorating."
"Oh yeah," Cherise responded, as she sat down to her country glazed ham. "Let's hang lots of golden balloons and cover the workbench and the chair with blue crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her father sorrowfully. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Kirsten Weeden. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a cheesecloth."
"Whew," Cherise responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a gasp. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."