Renee woke up with a giggle. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a scarf and a skirt. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the study was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited four of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend two hours playing fun games like red rover and Snakes and Ladders. Her dad was planning to make plenty of hors d'oeuvre and burritos for everyone. Renee would try to blow out all thirty-five candles on the aquamarine and magenta cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Renee would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a pumpkin! She hoped it would be an important pumpkin. Her friend Penny had said she would give her a tissue, and her grandma always gave her cool stuff like the whistle she gave her last year. Renee could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a pelting rainstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her scarf. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the village. She would have to wear a pair of nylons instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her skirt.
She sallied forth downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like chocolate. Her dad was standing there with a melon baller in his hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" he said with a finger gun.
"Hi Daddy!" Renee replied solemnly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the hors d'oeuvre," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra basil. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Renee replied haughtily. "Do we have the burritos ready?"
"I'm going to wait until seven o'clock to start that," her father replied victoriously. "It only has to sear outside for sixteen minutes."
"Okay," Renee replied menacingly. "I'm gonna go to the study."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some potatoes and gravy in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the study 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," Renee responded, as she sat down to her potatoes and gravy. "Let's hang lots of lime-green balloons and cover the cupboard and the display case with aqua crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her father ferociously. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Xenia Griffin. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a potato masher."
"Aaack," Renee responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with an air kiss. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."