Hagit woke up with a sniff. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a pair of sandals and a pacifier. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the servant's quarters was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend two hours playing fun games like volleyball and leapfrog. Her mom was planning to make plenty of fish and chips and cinnamon toast for everyone. Hagit would try to blow out all twelve candles on the black and jade cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Hagit would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a hat! She hoped it would be a bent hat. Her friend Bobby had said he would give her an urn, and her friend always gave her cool stuff like the statue she gave her last year. Hagit could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a flood was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her pair of sandals. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the bog. She would have to wear a coonskin hat instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her pacifier.
She sneaked downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like elderberries. Her mom was standing there with a strainer in her hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" she said with a grin.
"Hi Mommy!" Hagit replied vigorously. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the fish and chips," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra English muffin. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Hagit replied zestily. "Do we have the cinnamon toast ready?"
"I'm going to wait until seven o'clock to start that," her mother replied ignobly. "It only has to toast for thirty-eight minutes."
"Okay," Hagit replied again. "I'm gonna go to the servant's quarters."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some enchiladas in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the servant's quarters first?" she begged.
"It looks just like it always does," her mother replied. "Remember, I'm depending on you to help with the decorating."
"Oh yeah," Hagit responded, as she sat down to her enchiladas. "Let's hang lots of chocolate brown balloons and cover the bed and the billiard table with lavender crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her mother violently. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Ana Hoffmann. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a pastry blender."
"Hold that thought," Hagit responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a snort. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."