Nakisha woke up with a woof. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a pair of cowboy boots and a poncho. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the billiard room was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-one of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend four hours playing fun games like doctor and hearts. Her dad was planning to make plenty of lamb curry and apple pie for everyone. Nakisha would try to blow out all eight candles on the burgundy and ivory cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Nakisha would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a rubber stamp! She hoped it would be an electric rubber stamp. Her friend Hayley had said she would give her a pink flamingo, and her grandpa always gave her cool stuff like the hubcap she gave her last year. Nakisha could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a windstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her pair of cowboy boots. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the path. She would have to wear a toga instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her poncho.
She blundered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like a Chinese restaurant. Her dad was standing there with a whisk in his hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" he said with a pucker.
"Hi Daddy!" Nakisha replied timidly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the lamb curry," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra corn chips. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Nakisha replied flightily. "Do we have the apple pie ready?"
"I'm going to wait until ten o'clock to start that," her father replied swiftly. "It only has to press for fifty minutes."
"Okay," Nakisha replied immediately. "I'm gonna go to the billiard room."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some moo goo gai pan in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the billiard room 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," Nakisha responded, as she sat down to her moo goo gai pan. "Let's hang lots of jade balloons and cover the couch and the crib with periwinkle crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her father rapidly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Taylor Ecklund. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a pair of chopsticks."
"Hallelujah," Nakisha responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a cheer. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."