Michaela woke up with a sigh. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a tie and a sweater. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the workshop was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited thirty of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend six hours playing fun games like crazy eights and rummy. Her dad was planning to make plenty of chicken gumbo and candy for everyone. Michaela would try to blow out all twenty-eight candles on the amber and blue cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Michaela would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a cell phone! She hoped it would be a big cell phone. Her friend Lori had said she would give her an ice cream cone, and her main squeeze always gave her cool stuff like the saw she gave her last year. Michaela 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 tie. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the marsh. She would have to wear a corset instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her sweater.
She reeled downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like smoked fish. Her dad was standing there with a candy thermometer in his hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" he said with a wrinkled nose.
"Hi Daddy!" Michaela replied oddly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the chicken gumbo," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra tomatoes. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Michaela replied craftily. "Do we have the candy ready?"
"I'm going to wait until five o'clock to start that," her father replied thoughtfully. "It only has to heat for forty-one minutes."
"Okay," Michaela replied trustingly. "I'm gonna go to the workshop."
"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 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," Michaela responded, as she sat down to her enchiladas. "Let's hang lots of lime-green balloons and cover the end table and the settee with chocolate brown crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her father anxiously. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Xenia Schaffer. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a bare foot."
"Oh my word," Michaela responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a smack. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."