Kyra woke up with a hug. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a pair of galoshes and a bustier. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the boudoir was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twelve of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend three hours playing fun games like billiards and hopscotch. Her mom was planning to make plenty of roast beef and oatmeal for everyone. Kyra would try to blow out all four candles on the maroon and crimson cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Kyra would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a rock! She hoped it would be a small rock. Her friend Todd had said he would give her a can of beans, and her wife always gave her cool stuff like the egg shell she gave her last year. Kyra could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a dust storm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her pair of galoshes. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the path. She would have to wear a visor instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her bustier.
She trotted downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like maple syrup. Her mom was standing there with a spoon in her hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" she said with a furrowed brow.
"Hi Mommy!" Kyra replied proudly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the roast beef," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra active dry yeast. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Kyra replied hastily. "Do we have the oatmeal ready?"
"I'm going to wait until five o'clock to start that," her mother replied energetically. "It only has to microwave for twenty-seven minutes."
"Okay," Kyra replied nervously. "I'm gonna go to the boudoir."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some roast beef in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the boudoir 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," Kyra responded, as she sat down to her roast beef. "Let's hang lots of white balloons and cover the cupboard and the windowsill with lavender crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her mother pitifully. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Katherine Rinfield. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a grater."
"Spiff," Kyra responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a belly laugh. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."