Ethel woke up with a death glare. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a pair of moon boots and a kilt. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the workshop was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited ten of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend one hour playing fun games like doctor and Cootie. Her dad was planning to make plenty of succotash and strawberry shortcake for everyone. Ethel would try to blow out all nineteen candles on the salmon and chartreuse cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Ethel would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a stack of papers! She hoped it would be an ornate stack of papers. Her friend Kathryn had said she would give her a box of candy, and her mom always gave her cool stuff like the model airplane she gave her last year. Ethel 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 moon boots. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the cave. She would have to wear a pair of trousers instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her kilt.
She ambled downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like hamburgers. Her dad was standing there with a Sham-Wow! in his hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" he said with a pout.
"Hi Daddy!" Ethel replied nimbly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the succotash," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra pickled peppers. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Ethel replied reluctantly. "Do we have the strawberry shortcake ready?"
"I'm going to wait until nine o'clock to start that," her father replied pityingly. "It only has to steam for eighty-four minutes."
"Okay," Ethel replied truculently. "I'm gonna go to the workshop."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some tortillas in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the workshop 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," Ethel responded, as she sat down to her tortillas. "Let's hang lots of jet black balloons and cover the hope chest and the bookcase with hot pink crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her father humbly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Megan Keefe. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a spatula."
"Big whoop," Ethel responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a roar. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."