Lori woke up with a cackle. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a turtleneck and a pair of moon boots. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the auditorium was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited seven of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like battleship and charades. Her dad was planning to make plenty of mashed potatoes and fried eggs for everyone. Lori would try to blow out all twenty-six candles on the salmon and jet black cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Lori would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a comb! She hoped it would be a crusty comb. Her friend Nettie had said she would give her a clam, and her grandfather always gave her cool stuff like the chain she gave her last year. Lori could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that an earthquake was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her turtleneck. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the gully. She would have to wear a towel instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her pair of moon boots.
She sashayed downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like a swamp. Her dad was standing there with a garlic press in his hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" he said with a cheer.
"Hi Daddy!" Lori replied unabashedly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the mashed potatoes," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra garlic powder. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Lori replied boisterously. "Do we have the fried eggs ready?"
"I'm going to wait until twelve o'clock to start that," her father replied steadily. "It only has to mix intensely for twenty minutes."
"Okay," Lori replied thankfully. "I'm gonna go to the auditorium."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some corn on the cob in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the auditorium 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," Lori responded, as she sat down to her corn on the cob. "Let's hang lots of white balloons and cover the nightstand and the bookcase with turquoise crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her father suavely. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Izzy Wimple. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a spoon."
"For cryin' out loud," Lori responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a smile. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."