Bethany woke up with a squint. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a kimono and a pair of Crocs. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the billiard room was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-four of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend four hours playing fun games like crazy eights and tag. Her mom was planning to make plenty of pecan pie and egg rolls for everyone. Bethany would try to blow out all six candles on the violet and teal cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Bethany would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a pickle! She hoped it would be a broken pickle. Her friend Jimmie Lee had said he would give her a piece of candy, and her sister-in-law always gave her cool stuff like the baseball she gave her last year. Bethany could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a rainstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her kimono. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the peninsula. She would have to wear a necklace instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her pair of Crocs.
She waded downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like moth balls. Her mom was standing there with a dull knife in her hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" she said with a hiccup.
"Hi Mommy!" Bethany replied hopefully. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the pecan pie," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra lettuce. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Bethany replied roughly. "Do we have the egg rolls ready?"
"I'm going to wait until one o'clock to start that," her mother replied blindly. "It only has to toast for twenty-four minutes."
"Okay," Bethany replied nimbly. "I'm gonna go to the billiard room."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some fried eggs in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the billiard room 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," Bethany responded, as she sat down to her fried eggs. "Let's hang lots of burgundy balloons and cover the computer and the catbird seat with sea green crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her mother lickety-split. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Lillian McCoy. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a garlic press."
"Anyhoo," Bethany responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a shout. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."