Angela woke up with a wink. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a wizard's hat and a swimsuit. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the study was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-six of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend two hours playing fun games like solitaire and red rover. Her mom was planning to make plenty of succotash and burritos for everyone. Angela would try to blow out all twelve candles on the khaki and lime-green cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Angela would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a Happy Meal! She hoped it would be an old Happy Meal. Her friend Zeke had said he would give her a vacuum cleaner, and her aunt always gave her cool stuff like the backpack she gave her last year. Angela could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a dense fog was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her wizard's hat. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the field. She would have to wear a pair of Bermuda shorts instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her swimsuit.
She clambered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like greasepaint. Her mom was standing there with a blender in her hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" she said with a crow.
"Hi Mommy!" Angela replied recklessly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the succotash," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra beer. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Angela replied innocently. "Do we have the burritos ready?"
"I'm going to wait until twelve o'clock to start that," her mother replied swiftly. "It only has to spread into container for thirty-five minutes."
"Okay," Angela replied courageously. "I'm gonna go to the study."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some country glazed ham 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," Angela responded, as she sat down to her country glazed ham. "Let's hang lots of forest green balloons and cover the recliner and the water bed with pea green crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her mother pitifully. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Elliott Sitting Bird. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has an electric paint mixer."
"Anyhow," Angela 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."