Queenie woke up with a giggle. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a bra and a pair of Oxfords. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the study was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-seven of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like hearts and billiards. Her dad was planning to make plenty of hot dogs and strawberry shortcake for everyone. Queenie would try to blow out all five candles on the tan and periwinkle cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Queenie would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a pigeon! She hoped it would be a cardboard pigeon. Her friend Lillian had said she would give her a sponge, and her sister-in-law always gave her cool stuff like the Van Gogh she gave her last year. Queenie could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a sandstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her bra. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the plateau. She would have to wear a gunny sack instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her pair of Oxfords.
She tore downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like gingerbread. Her dad was standing there with a potato peeler in his hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" he said with a caress.
"Hi Daddy!" Queenie replied peevishly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the hot dogs," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra sour cream. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Queenie replied nonchalantly. "Do we have the strawberry shortcake ready?"
"I'm going to wait until five o'clock to start that," her father replied carelessly. "It only has to slow cook for twenty-eight minutes."
"Okay," Queenie replied pitifully. "I'm gonna go to the study."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some crumb cake in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the study 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," Queenie responded, as she sat down to her crumb cake. "Let's hang lots of white balloons and cover the ping-pong table and the pool table with polka dotted crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her father suspiciously. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Jessica Ellington. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a whisk."
"Begad," Queenie responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a blush. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."