Claire woke up with a raspberry. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a pair of boxer shorts and a camisole. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the tool shed was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-nine of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend two hours playing fun games like checkers and charades. Her dad was planning to make plenty of lobster bisque and fondue for everyone. Claire would try to blow out all twenty-one candles on the khaki and olive green cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Claire would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a flower! She hoped it would be a gruesome flower. Her friend Loretta had said she would give her a bowling ball, and her sister always gave her cool stuff like the bag she gave her last year. Claire could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a pelting rainstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her pair of boxer shorts. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the arroyo. She would have to wear a wig instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her camisole.
She sidled downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like spearmint. Her dad was standing there with a sharp knife in his hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" he said with a backward glance.
"Hi Daddy!" Claire replied daintily. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the lobster bisque," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra olive oil. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Claire replied jokingly. "Do we have the fondue ready?"
"I'm going to wait until twelve o'clock to start that," her father replied slowly. "It only has to broil for forty-five minutes."
"Okay," Claire replied coldly. "I'm gonna go to the tool shed."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some tacos in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the tool shed 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," Claire responded, as she sat down to her tacos. "Let's hang lots of lavender balloons and cover the washstand and the ottoman with white crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her father violently. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Judith Sorovich. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a pair of tongs."
"Aarrggh," Claire responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a jeer. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."