Sheryl 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 a blanket and a toga. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the hall was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-three of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend five hours playing fun games like solitaire and red rover. Her dad was planning to make plenty of succotash and roast beef for everyone. Sheryl would try to blow out all twenty-six candles on the aquamarine and teal cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Sheryl would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a duffel bag! She hoped it would be an important duffel bag. Her friend Dinah had said she would give her a china doll, and her mom always gave her cool stuff like the can of sardines she gave her last year. Sheryl could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a driving rain was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her blanket. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the ridge. She would have to wear a maxi skirt instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her toga.
She tumbled downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like pipe tobacco. Her dad was standing there with a grater in his hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" he said with a clenched fist.
"Hi Daddy!" Sheryl replied steadily. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the succotash," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra mint leaves. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Sheryl replied boisterously. "Do we have the roast beef ready?"
"I'm going to wait until twelve o'clock to start that," her father replied tensely. "It only has to spread into container for twenty-five minutes."
"Okay," Sheryl replied ignobly. "I'm gonna go to the hall."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some pecan pie in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the hall 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," Sheryl responded, as she sat down to her pecan pie. "Let's hang lots of peach balloons and cover the bookshelf and the dresser with silver crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her father nervously. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Kaitlyn Espinoza. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a Sham-Wow!."
"For the love of Pete," Sheryl responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a growl. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."