Valentina woke up with a power fist. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a coat and a bandana. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the garage was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-seven of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend two hours playing fun games like badminton and hopscotch. Her mom was planning to make plenty of moo goo gai pan and pancakes for everyone. Valentina would try to blow out all two candles on the carrot-orange and crimson cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Valentina would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a candle! She hoped it would be a gross candle. Her friend Louie had said he would give her a curling iron, and her mentor always gave her cool stuff like the daisy she gave her last year. Valentina could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a sleet storm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her coat. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the hill. She would have to wear a corset instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her bandana.
She stormed downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like peanuts. Her mom was standing there with a slotted spoon in her hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" she said with a gurgle.
"Hi Mommy!" Valentina replied haughtily. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the moo goo gai pan," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra butter. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Valentina replied gratefully. "Do we have the pancakes ready?"
"I'm going to wait until seven o'clock to start that," her mother replied slowly. "It only has to press for thirty-nine minutes."
"Okay," Valentina replied numbly. "I'm gonna go to the garage."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some chicken soup in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the garage first?" she begged.
"It looks just like it always does," her mother replied. "Remember, I'm depending on you to help with the decorating."
"Oh yeah," Valentina responded, as she sat down to her chicken soup. "Let's hang lots of green balloons and cover the dining table and the stairway with black crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her mother glibly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Coleen Wapner. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a mixing spoon."
"Nonsense," Valentina responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a pound of the chest. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."