Clarisa woke up with a snuffle. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a heavy layer of makeup and a garland. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the servant's quarters was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-three of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend four hours playing fun games like leapfrog and old maid. Her dad was planning to make plenty of egg drop soup and fondue for everyone. Clarisa would try to blow out all thirteen candles on the grey and chartreuse cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Clarisa would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a backpack! She hoped it would be a wet backpack. Her friend Charlotte had said she would give her a stamp, and her girlfriend always gave her cool stuff like the contract she gave her last year. Clarisa could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a humid day was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her heavy layer of makeup. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the dumpster. She would have to wear a pair of trousers instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her garland.
She waddled downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like baby lotion. Her dad was standing there with an oven mitt in his hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" he said with a shrug.
"Hi Daddy!" Clarisa replied carefully. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the egg drop soup," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra chocolate chips. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Clarisa replied glibly. "Do we have the fondue ready?"
"I'm going to wait until five o'clock to start that," her father replied kindly. "It only has to broil for sixty-two minutes."
"Okay," Clarisa replied warmly. "I'm gonna go to the servant's quarters."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some chicken gumbo in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the servant's quarters 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," Clarisa responded, as she sat down to her chicken gumbo. "Let's hang lots of pink balloons and cover the china hutch and the bath mat with violet crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her father despondently. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Mandy German. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a meat thermometer."
"Holy moley," Clarisa responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a jeer. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."