Marilyn woke up with a smirk. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a ribbon and a corsage. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the conservatory was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-nine of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend seven hours playing fun games like baseball and Mother May I. Her dad was planning to make plenty of hot dogs and crab rangoon for everyone. Marilyn would try to blow out all twenty-three candles on the indigo and sparkly cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Marilyn would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a paper clip! She hoped it would be a gaudy paper clip. Her friend Leslie had said she would give her a coffee pot, and her fiancée always gave her cool stuff like the belt she gave her last year. Marilyn could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a dense fog was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her ribbon. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the range. She would have to wear a pair of handcuffs instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her corsage.
She lurched downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like manure. Her dad was standing there with an oven mitt in his hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" he said with a roar.
"Hi Daddy!" Marilyn replied boldly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the hot dogs," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra tequila. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Marilyn replied narrowly. "Do we have the crab rangoon ready?"
"I'm going to wait until ten o'clock to start that," her father replied cheerfully. "It only has to allow to rise in warm place for several hours for eighty minutes."
"Okay," Marilyn replied lovingly. "I'm gonna go to the conservatory."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some sushi in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the conservatory 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," Marilyn responded, as she sat down to her sushi. "Let's hang lots of carrot-orange balloons and cover the cupboard and the bunk bed with carrot-orange crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her father offhandedly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Cherise Chen. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a grater."
"Exaltations," Marilyn responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a sigh. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."