Lizzie woke up with a cringe. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a badge and a straitjacket. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the lounge was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited six of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend seven hours playing fun games like ring around the rosie and marbles. Her dad was planning to make plenty of moo goo gai pan and bonbons for everyone. Lizzie would try to blow out all twelve candles on the hot pink and teal cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Lizzie would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a twig! She hoped it would be a damp twig. Her friend Nan had said she would give her a chamber pot, and her mommy always gave her cool stuff like the muffin she gave her last year. Lizzie could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a hot day was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her badge. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the veld. She would have to wear a bowler hat instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her straitjacket.
She walked downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like cheap cologne. Her dad was standing there with a paring knife in his hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" he said with a caress.
"Hi Daddy!" Lizzie replied strictly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the moo goo gai pan," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra fresh parsley. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Lizzie replied softly. "Do we have the bonbons ready?"
"I'm going to wait until six o'clock to start that," her father replied merrily. "It only has to blend for sixty-nine minutes."
"Okay," Lizzie replied caustically. "I'm gonna go to the lounge."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some steak in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the lounge 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," Lizzie responded, as she sat down to her steak. "Let's hang lots of ivory balloons and cover the chair and the TV with violet crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her father sarcastically. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Robin McGraw. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a candy thermometer."
"Woof," Lizzie responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a sniffle. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."