Sissy woke up with a pucker. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a belt and a moustache. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the pantry was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-one of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend five hours playing fun games like chess and pool. Her dad was planning to make plenty of omelet and pumpkin pie for everyone. Sissy would try to blow out all five candles on the polka dotted and orange cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Sissy would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a contract! She hoped it would be a fancy contract. Her friend Minnie had said she would give her a diamond, and her mommy always gave her cool stuff like the cracker she gave her last year. Sissy could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a drizzle was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her belt. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the trail. She would have to wear a suit instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her moustache.
She capered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like burnt toast. Her dad was standing there with a bare foot in his hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" he said with a raspberry.
"Hi Daddy!" Sissy replied furiously. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the omelet," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra asparagus. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Sissy replied thankfully. "Do we have the pumpkin pie ready?"
"I'm going to wait until eight o'clock to start that," her father replied later. "It only has to refrigerate overnight for seventy-two minutes."
"Okay," Sissy replied strictly. "I'm gonna go to the pantry."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some cookies in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the pantry 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," Sissy responded, as she sat down to her cookies. "Let's hang lots of magenta balloons and cover the dresser and the pillow with chartreuse crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her father cautiously. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Petunia Bergstrom. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a spoon."
"Never mind," Sissy responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a snicker. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."