Lynette 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 an overcoat and a belt buckle. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the rec room was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-six of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like follow the leader and Simon Says. Her mom was planning to make plenty of fried eggs and falafel for everyone. Lynette would try to blow out all eighteen candles on the teal and golden cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Lynette would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a Rubik's cube! She hoped it would be a rancid Rubik's cube. Her friend Cat had said he would give her a suitcase, and her cousin always gave her cool stuff like the teacup she gave her last year. Lynette could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a tornado was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her overcoat. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the plain. She would have to wear a burqa instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her belt buckle.
She darted downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like lemons. Her mom was standing there with a potato masher in her hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" she said with a shiver.
"Hi Mommy!" Lynette replied recklessly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the fried eggs," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra pecan pieces. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Lynette replied positively. "Do we have the falafel ready?"
"I'm going to wait until two o'clock to start that," her mother replied bravely. "It only has to broil for nine minutes."
"Okay," Lynette replied woodenly. "I'm gonna go to the rec room."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some egg rolls in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the rec room 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," Lynette responded, as she sat down to her egg rolls. "Let's hang lots of black balloons and cover the settee and the filing cabinet with burgundy crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her mother pitifully. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Hephzibah McCoy. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a candy thermometer."
"Say what," Lynette responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a bound. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."