Bobbie woke up with a death glare. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a big red rose and a motorcycle helmet. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the workshop was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited eighteen of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend six hours playing fun games like badminton and dodge ball. Her mom was planning to make plenty of fried chicken and corn on the cob for everyone. Bobbie would try to blow out all fourteen candles on the scarlet and pea green cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Bobbie would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a crayon! She hoped it would be a hideous crayon. Her friend Pete had said he would give her a Bunsen burner, and her mother-in-law always gave her cool stuff like the suitcase she gave her last year. Bobbie could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a lightning storm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her big red rose. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the briar patch. She would have to wear a black armband instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her motorcycle helmet.
She clambered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like fresh-baked bread. Her mom was standing there with a napkin in her hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" she said with a furrowed brow.
"Hi Mommy!" Bobbie replied positively. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the fried chicken," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra pomegranate juice. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Bobbie replied happily. "Do we have the corn on the cob ready?"
"I'm going to wait until five o'clock to start that," her mother replied thankfully. "It only has to freeze for twenty minutes."
"Okay," Bobbie replied openly. "I'm gonna go to the workshop."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some fried chicken in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the workshop 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," Bobbie responded, as she sat down to her fried chicken. "Let's hang lots of maroon balloons and cover the washstand and the recliner with amber crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her mother intensely. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Phyllis Speer. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a cheesecloth."
"Zzzzz," Bobbie responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a grin. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."