Jennessa woke up with a laugh. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a camisole and an Eton jacket. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the linen closet was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited one of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend three hours playing fun games like seven-up and follow the leader. Her dad was planning to make plenty of ice cream and roast turkey for everyone. Jennessa would try to blow out all twenty-four candles on the silver and mauve cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Jennessa would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a whoopee cushion! She hoped it would be a handy whoopee cushion. Her friend Norma had said she would give her a pickle, and her dad always gave her cool stuff like the cane she gave her last year. Jennessa could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a windstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her camisole. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the pond. She would have to wear a class ring instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her Eton jacket.
She trekked downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like caramel corn. Her dad was standing there with a foot in his hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" he said with a pound of the chest.
"Hi Daddy!" Jennessa replied nimbly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the ice cream," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra vanilla. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Jennessa replied hysterically. "Do we have the roast turkey ready?"
"I'm going to wait until two o'clock to start that," her father replied breathlessly. "It only has to smoke for fifty-five minutes."
"Okay," Jennessa replied despondently. "I'm gonna go to the linen closet."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some fondue in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the linen closet 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," Jennessa responded, as she sat down to her fondue. "Let's hang lots of jet black balloons and cover the end table and the pedestal with burgundy crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her father peevishly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Paige Magnusson. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a mixing spoon."
"Holy minerva," Jennessa responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a backward glance. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."