Fran woke up with a yawn. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a few synthetic rags and a watch. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the pantry was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-two of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend one hour playing fun games like Parcheesi and battleship. Her mom was planning to make plenty of lime sherbet and pot roast for everyone. Fran would try to blow out all eighteen candles on the jet black and chocolate brown cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Fran would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a candy bar! She hoped it would be a crisp candy bar. Her friend Deng had said he would give her a salt shaker, and her grandma always gave her cool stuff like the telephone book she gave her last year. Fran could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a driving rain was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her few synthetic rags. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the jungle. She would have to wear a pair of booties instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her watch.
She lurched downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like pepper. Her mom was standing there with a Sham-Wow! in her hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" she said with a cheer.
"Hi Mommy!" Fran replied hastily. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the lime sherbet," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra pitted cherries. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Fran replied roughly. "Do we have the pot roast ready?"
"I'm going to wait until three o'clock to start that," her mother replied doubtfully. "It only has to press for fifty-two minutes."
"Okay," Fran replied calmly. "I'm gonna go to the pantry."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some brownies in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the pantry 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," Fran responded, as she sat down to her brownies. "Let's hang lots of lime-green balloons and cover the chest of drawers and the bunk bed with striped crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her mother primly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Nettie Shakewell. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a ladle."
"Holy mackerel," Fran 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."