Morgan woke up with a flush. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a pair of socks and a ski mask. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the master bedroom 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 pool and rummy. Her dad was planning to make plenty of prime rib and cabbage rolls for everyone. Morgan would try to blow out all sixteen candles on the striped and beige cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Morgan would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a firecracker! She hoped it would be a striped firecracker. Her friend Marina had said she would give her a backpack, and her grandma always gave her cool stuff like the cardboard box she gave her last year. Morgan could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a snowstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her pair of socks. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the hillside. She would have to wear a gun belt instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her ski mask.
She jumped downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like lemons. Her dad was standing there with a ladle in his hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" he said with a honk.
"Hi Daddy!" Morgan replied grandly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the prime rib," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra lima beans. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Morgan replied flightily. "Do we have the cabbage rolls ready?"
"I'm going to wait until six o'clock to start that," her father replied thoughtfully. "It only has to spoon into container for thirty-nine minutes."
"Okay," Morgan replied caustically. "I'm gonna go to the master bedroom."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some falafel in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the master bedroom 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," Morgan responded, as she sat down to her falafel. "Let's hang lots of sparkly balloons and cover the bar stool and the futon with lavender crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her father immediately. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Bonita Falcon. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a napkin."
"Malarkey," Morgan responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a snigger. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."