Joyce woke up with a sigh. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a bikini and a wet suit. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the boiler room was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited six of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend one hour playing fun games like ring around the rosie and jacks. Her dad was planning to make plenty of roast beef and pecan pie for everyone. Joyce would try to blow out all six candles on the teal and violet cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Joyce would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a duffel bag! She hoped it would be a worn duffel bag. Her friend Nelda had said she would give her a pizza, and her aunt always gave her cool stuff like the horseshoe she gave her last year. Joyce could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a hot, sunny day was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her bikini. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the treetop. She would have to wear a birthday suit instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her wet suit.
She flew downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like fried chicken. Her dad was standing there with a turkey baster in his hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" he said with a crow.
"Hi Daddy!" Joyce replied cruelly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the roast beef," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra sweet potatoes. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Joyce replied hopefully. "Do we have the pecan pie ready?"
"I'm going to wait until two o'clock to start that," her father replied carelessly. "It only has to melt for eighty minutes."
"Okay," Joyce replied hopefully. "I'm gonna go to the boiler room."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some falafel in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the boiler room 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," Joyce responded, as she sat down to her falafel. "Let's hang lots of forest green balloons and cover the floor and the cash register with crimson crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her father crankily. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Latrina Eriksson. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a food processor."
"@#%#^@%$@!," Joyce responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a raised eyebrow. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."