Cheryl woke up with a crow. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a bonnet and a winter coat. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the doghouse 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 red light green light and bridge. Her dad was planning to make plenty of pretzels and steak for everyone. Cheryl would try to blow out all seven candles on the forest green and beige cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Cheryl would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a tennis racket! She hoped it would be a well worn tennis racket. Her friend Lorena had said she would give her a Van Gogh, and her grandfather always gave her cool stuff like the bell she gave her last year. Cheryl could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a hot day was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her bonnet. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the island. She would have to wear a toga instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her winter coat.
She pranced downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like flatulence. Her dad was standing there with a slotted spoon in his hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" he said with a smack.
"Hi Daddy!" Cheryl replied madly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the pretzels," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra flour. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Cheryl replied awkwardly. "Do we have the steak ready?"
"I'm going to wait until five o'clock to start that," her father replied patiently. "It only has to blend for forty-nine minutes."
"Okay," Cheryl replied clumsily. "I'm gonna go to the doghouse."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some ceviche in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the doghouse 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," Cheryl responded, as she sat down to her ceviche. "Let's hang lots of terra cotta balloons and cover the ottoman and the pool table with beige crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her father gingerly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Bernadette Dirkson. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a garlic press."
"Holy Mother of Petunias," Cheryl responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a crow. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."