Krista woke up with a smack. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a stovepipe hat and an armband. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the basement was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited seventeen of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend two hours playing fun games like doctor and battleship. Her dad was planning to make plenty of clam chowder and ham for everyone. Krista would try to blow out all two candles on the black and orange cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Krista would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain an ice cream cone! She hoped it would be a luxurious ice cream cone. Her friend Sierra had said she would give her a broom, and her grandpa always gave her cool stuff like the radio she gave her last year. Krista could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a blizzard was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her stovepipe hat. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the pasture. She would have to wear a bathrobe instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her armband.
She set out downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like bubble gum. Her dad was standing there with a grater in his hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" he said with a bound.
"Hi Daddy!" Krista replied shyly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the clam chowder," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra eggs. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Krista replied vacantly. "Do we have the ham ready?"
"I'm going to wait until ten o'clock to start that," her father replied merrily. "It only has to sear outside for seventy-four minutes."
"Okay," Krista replied obediently. "I'm gonna go to the basement."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some clam chowder in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the basement 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," Krista responded, as she sat down to her clam chowder. "Let's hang lots of aquamarine balloons and cover the bookshelf and the counter with crimson crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her father again. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Clara Hughes. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a piece of cheesecloth."
"Gads," Krista responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a sigh. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."