Mackenzie woke up with a pout. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in an award medal and a shawl. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the foyer was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited thirteen of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like roulette and Parcheesi. Her mom was planning to make plenty of biscuits and gravy and fondue for everyone. Mackenzie would try to blow out all eighteen candles on the periwinkle and yellow cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Mackenzie would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a diagram! She hoped it would be a used diagram. Her friend Patrick had said he would give her a dollar bill, and her grandma always gave her cool stuff like the sponge she gave her last year. Mackenzie could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a gale was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her award medal. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the trail. She would have to wear a bowler hat instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her shawl.
She strolled downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like Revlon. Her mom was standing there with a piece of cheesecloth in her hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" she said with a snigger.
"Hi Mommy!" Mackenzie replied angrily. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the biscuits and gravy," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra bread crumbs. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Mackenzie replied dubiously. "Do we have the fondue ready?"
"I'm going to wait until nine o'clock to start that," her mother replied tearfully. "It only has to boil for one minute."
"Okay," Mackenzie replied cunningly. "I'm gonna go to the foyer."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some Hamburger Helper in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the foyer 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," Mackenzie responded, as she sat down to her Hamburger Helper. "Let's hang lots of violet balloons and cover the washing machine and the bookshelf with beige crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her mother openly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Ling Schaffer. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a garlic press."
"Cheers," Mackenzie responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a smirk. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."