Bailey woke up with a shout. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a Stetson hat and a floppy hat. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the conservatory was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited six of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend three hours playing fun games like hearts and chess. Her dad was planning to make plenty of Hamburger Helper and ceviche for everyone. Bailey would try to blow out all eleven candles on the white and yellow cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Bailey would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a mousetrap! She hoped it would be a bronze mousetrap. Her friend Mandy had said she would give her a needle and thread, and her wife always gave her cool stuff like the magnet she gave her last year. Bailey could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a windstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her Stetson hat. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the path. She would have to wear a veil instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her floppy hat.
She sailed downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like fresh-baked bread. Her dad was standing there with a candy thermometer in his hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" he said with a stiff upper lip.
"Hi Daddy!" Bailey replied majestically. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the Hamburger Helper," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra dill weed. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Bailey replied silently. "Do we have the ceviche ready?"
"I'm going to wait until twelve o'clock to start that," her father replied oddly. "It only has to age for seventy minutes."
"Okay," Bailey replied later. "I'm gonna go to the conservatory."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some catfish stew 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," Bailey responded, as she sat down to her catfish stew. "Let's hang lots of metallic red balloons and cover the bar stool and the desk with violet crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her father queerly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Erica Perry. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a strainer."
"No no no," Bailey responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a gurgle. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."