Lakshmi woke up with a backward glance. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a bathrobe and a Panama hat. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the nursery was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited ten of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like old maid and charades. Her mom was planning to make plenty of mushroom quiche and lime sherbet for everyone. Lakshmi would try to blow out all fifteen candles on the silver and olive green cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Lakshmi would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a cactus plant! She hoped it would be an electronic cactus plant. Her friend Dorian had said he would give her a crayon, and her friend always gave her cool stuff like the rock she gave her last year. Lakshmi could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a downpour was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her bathrobe. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the dump. She would have to wear a poncho instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her Panama hat.
She ran downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like a beauty salon. Her mom was standing there with a bare foot in her hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" she said with a frown.
"Hi Mommy!" Lakshmi replied proudly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the mushroom quiche," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra eggs. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Lakshmi replied sadly. "Do we have the lime sherbet ready?"
"I'm going to wait until eight o'clock to start that," her mother replied viciously. "It only has to boil for seven minutes."
"Okay," Lakshmi replied later. "I'm gonna go to the nursery."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some fish and chips in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the nursery 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," Lakshmi responded, as she sat down to her fish and chips. "Let's hang lots of mauve balloons and cover the desk and the recliner with amber crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her mother fearlessly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Esmeralda Munich. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a potato masher."
"Diddly poo," Lakshmi responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a flush. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."