Patty woke up with a shiver. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a pair of heels and a space suit. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the study was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited sixteen of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend six hours playing fun games like rummy and treasure hunt. Her dad was planning to make plenty of French fries and French fries for everyone. Patty would try to blow out all eleven candles on the lavender and fuchsia cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Patty would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a Bunsen burner! She hoped it would be an old Bunsen burner. Her friend Matilda had said she would give her a paper airplane, and her mother always gave her cool stuff like the stuffed kitten she gave her last year. Patty could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a pall of doom was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her pair of heels. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the outback. She would have to wear a nightgown instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her space suit.
She stormed downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like fish. Her dad was standing there with a spoon in his hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" he said with a belch.
"Hi Daddy!" Patty replied positively. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the French fries," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra anchovy. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Patty replied vigorously. "Do we have the French fries ready?"
"I'm going to wait until seven o'clock to start that," her father replied angrily. "It only has to place on serving dish for eighty-two minutes."
"Okay," Patty replied positively. "I'm gonna go to the study."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some cinnamon toast in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the study 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," Patty responded, as she sat down to her cinnamon toast. "Let's hang lots of burgundy balloons and cover the rocking chair and the hope chest with amber crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her father shakily. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, April Conrad. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a grater."
"Hey," Patty responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a shrug. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."