Leslie woke up with a growl. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a cowboy hat and a pair of earmuffs. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the study was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited nineteen of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend four hours playing fun games like chess and tag. Her mom was planning to make plenty of moo goo gai pan and mushroom quiche for everyone. Leslie would try to blow out all seven candles on the sparkly and forest green cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Leslie would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a hair dryer! She hoped it would be a nice hair dryer. Her friend Eddie had said he would give her a pain pill, and her girlfriend always gave her cool stuff like the cowbell she gave her last year. Leslie could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a lightning storm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her cowboy hat. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the battlefield. She would have to wear a scarf instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her pair of earmuffs.
She sped downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like mushrooms. Her mom was standing there with a turkey baster in her hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" she said with a belch.
"Hi Mommy!" Leslie replied sternly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the moo goo gai pan," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra peeled carrots. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Leslie replied haughtily. "Do we have the mushroom quiche ready?"
"I'm going to wait until four o'clock to start that," her mother replied suddenly. "It only has to microwave for forty minutes."
"Okay," Leslie replied lazily. "I'm gonna go to the study."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some bonbons 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 mother replied. "Remember, I'm depending on you to help with the decorating."
"Oh yeah," Leslie responded, as she sat down to her bonbons. "Let's hang lots of aquamarine balloons and cover the bookshelf and the dresser with lavender crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her mother courteously. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Vicki Simons. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a blender."
"What the dickens," Leslie responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a cheer. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."