Jeri woke up with a smack. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a poodle skirt and a pair of UGGs. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the garage was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited eleven of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend five hours playing fun games like musical chairs and golf. Her dad was planning to make plenty of fried chicken and apple pie for everyone. Jeri would try to blow out all eleven candles on the violet and lavender cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Jeri would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a mop! She hoped it would be a sleek mop. Her friend Francene had said she would give her a euphonium, and her cousin always gave her cool stuff like the barbell she gave her last year. Jeri could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a hot, sunny day was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her poodle skirt. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the moonscape. She would have to wear a camisole instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her pair of UGGs.
She lurched downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like paint. Her dad was standing there with an oven mitt in his hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" he said with a jeer.
"Hi Daddy!" Jeri replied quickly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the fried chicken," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra mashed potatoes. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Jeri replied valiantly. "Do we have the apple pie ready?"
"I'm going to wait until two o'clock to start that," her father replied oddly. "It only has to marinate for fifty-one minutes."
"Okay," Jeri replied fearfully. "I'm gonna go to the garage."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some popcorn in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the garage 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," Jeri responded, as she sat down to her popcorn. "Let's hang lots of navy blue balloons and cover the safe and the table with red crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her father strangely. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Marvella Gifford. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a pair of tongs."
"Not so fast," Jeri responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a chortle. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."