Roxie woke up with a cackle. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a bustier and a class ring. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the auditorium was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited five of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend two hours playing fun games like rummy and ring around the rosie. Her dad was planning to make plenty of lasagna and hors d'oeuvre for everyone. Roxie would try to blow out all seventeen candles on the sea green and scarlet cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Roxie would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a bag of groceries! She hoped it would be a polished bag of groceries. Her friend Mindy had said she would give her a toothbrush, and her aunt always gave her cool stuff like the chain she gave her last year. Roxie could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a downpour was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her bustier. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the creek. She would have to wear a fedora instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her class ring.
She scampered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like car exhaust. Her dad was standing there with a sharp knife in his hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" he said with a clenched fist.
"Hi Daddy!" Roxie replied shyly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the lasagna," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra bacon. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Roxie replied courteously. "Do we have the hors d'oeuvre ready?"
"I'm going to wait until one o'clock to start that," her father replied gently. "It only has to sear for thirteen minutes."
"Okay," Roxie replied smoothly. "I'm gonna go to the auditorium."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some pancakes in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the auditorium 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," Roxie responded, as she sat down to her pancakes. "Let's hang lots of camouflage balloons and cover the overstuffed chair and the catbird seat with fuchsia crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her father defiantly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Dierdre Weaver. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a knife."
"Oh dear," Roxie responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a finger gun. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."