Vanessa woke up with an air kiss. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a pair of UGGs and a pacifier. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the atrium was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-eight of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend one hour playing fun games like Clue and badminton. Her dad was planning to make plenty of succotash and macaroni for everyone. Vanessa would try to blow out all twenty-four candles on the pink and maroon cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Vanessa would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a telephone book! She hoped it would be a polished telephone book. Her friend Pamela had said she would give her a whistle, and her wife always gave her cool stuff like the spinning wheel she gave her last year. Vanessa could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a hot, sunny day was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her pair of UGGs. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the path. She would have to wear an overcoat instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her pacifier.
She sped downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like pepper. Her dad was standing there with a knife in his hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" he said with a smile.
"Hi Daddy!" Vanessa replied flightily. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the succotash," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra eggs. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Vanessa replied again. "Do we have the macaroni ready?"
"I'm going to wait until ten o'clock to start that," her father replied unnaturally. "It only has to grill for five minutes."
"Okay," Vanessa replied doubtfully. "I'm gonna go to the atrium."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some cotton candy in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the atrium 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," Vanessa responded, as she sat down to her cotton candy. "Let's hang lots of azure balloons and cover the safe and the piano with camouflage crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her father cautiously. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Charlene Friezbergen. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a strainer."
"Righto," Vanessa responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a frown. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."