Trixie 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 an apron and a black armband. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the study was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited fourteen of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend six hours playing fun games like Rummy and Parcheesi. Her mom was planning to make plenty of tacos and sauerkraut for everyone. Trixie would try to blow out all two candles on the indigo and camouflage cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Trixie would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a billiard ball! She hoped it would be a fresh billiard ball. Her friend Lonnie had said he would give her a dollar bill, and her aunt always gave her cool stuff like the stuffed kitten she gave her last year. Trixie could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a drizzle was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her apron. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the mesa. She would have to wear a pair of combat boots instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her black armband.
She struggled downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like trouble. Her mom was standing there with a corkscrew in her hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" she said with a dope slap.
"Hi Mommy!" Trixie replied zestily. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the tacos," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra cream cheese. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Trixie replied tenderly. "Do we have the sauerkraut ready?"
"I'm going to wait until six o'clock to start that," her mother replied cunningly. "It only has to smoke for eight minutes."
"Okay," Trixie replied mysteriously. "I'm gonna go to the study."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some fried okra 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," Trixie responded, as she sat down to her fried okra. "Let's hang lots of green balloons and cover the ping-pong table and the rug with green crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her mother delicately. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Liling Countryman. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a ladle."
"Duh," Trixie 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."