Anna woke up with a flinch. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a pair of moccasins and a corset. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the study was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited nine of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend five hours playing fun games like ring around the rosie and chess. Her dad was planning to make plenty of beef bouillon and ice cream for everyone. Anna would try to blow out all twenty-one candles on the ivory and lavender cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Anna would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a salt shaker! She hoped it would be a rusty salt shaker. Her friend Alyssa had said she would give her a radio, and her mom always gave her cool stuff like the cigarette she gave her last year. Anna could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a rainstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her pair of moccasins. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the butte. She would have to wear an Eton jacket instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her corset.
She slunk downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like smoke. Her dad was standing there with a piece of cheesecloth in his hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" he said with a finger gun.
"Hi Daddy!" Anna replied delicately. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the beef bouillon," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra dark beer. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Anna replied boisterously. "Do we have the ice cream ready?"
"I'm going to wait until six o'clock to start that," her father replied blindly. "It only has to boil for ninety minutes."
"Okay," Anna replied queerly. "I'm gonna go to the study."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some macaroni in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the study 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," Anna responded, as she sat down to her macaroni. "Let's hang lots of mauve balloons and cover the rug and the futon with sea green crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her father innocently. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Pallavi Gunderson. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a pastry blender."
"Judas Priest," Anna responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a shout. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."