Joanie woke up with a guffaw. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a T-shirt and a maxi skirt. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the study 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 hearts and volleyball. Her mom was planning to make plenty of hot dogs and shrimp for everyone. Joanie would try to blow out all twenty-nine candles on the emerald green and fuchsia cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Joanie would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a protest sign! She hoped it would be a large protest sign. Her friend Chad had said he would give her a peach, and her fiancée always gave her cool stuff like the nail she gave her last year. Joanie could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a hailstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her T-shirt. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the bog. She would have to wear a veil instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her maxi skirt.
She lurched downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like cedar. Her mom was standing there with a cookie cutter in her hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" she said with a kiss.
"Hi Mommy!" Joanie replied wildly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the hot dogs," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra avocado. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Joanie replied pityingly. "Do we have the shrimp ready?"
"I'm going to wait until twelve o'clock to start that," her mother replied admiringly. "It only has to press for forty-five minutes."
"Okay," Joanie replied dolorously. "I'm gonna go to the study."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some applesauce 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 mother replied. "Remember, I'm depending on you to help with the decorating."
"Oh yeah," Joanie responded, as she sat down to her applesauce. "Let's hang lots of olive drab balloons and cover the bunk bed and the casket with metallic red crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her mother unnaturally. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Madalyn Dodds. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a food processor."
"Oh well," Joanie responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a sniffle. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."