Martina 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 bridal gown and a sombrero. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the study was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-six of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend one hour playing fun games like dominos and bridge. Her mom was planning to make plenty of chocolate-covered ants and roast Cornish game hen for everyone. Martina would try to blow out all twenty-four candles on the orange and navy blue cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Martina would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a candle! She hoped it would be a weird candle. Her friend Baldwin had said he would give her a hacksaw, and her grandfather always gave her cool stuff like the egg shell she gave her last year. Martina could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a pelting rainstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her bridal gown. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the peninsula. She would have to wear a pair of Groucho glasses instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her sombrero.
She rolled downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like Calvin Klein. Her mom was standing there with a candy thermometer in her hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" she said with a coo.
"Hi Mommy!" Martina replied viciously. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the chocolate-covered ants," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra sage. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Martina replied strictly. "Do we have the roast Cornish game hen ready?"
"I'm going to wait until eleven o'clock to start that," her mother replied cautiously. "It only has to simmer for eighty-two minutes."
"Okay," Martina replied curiously. "I'm gonna go to the study."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some moo goo gai pan 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," Martina responded, as she sat down to her moo goo gai pan. "Let's hang lots of red balloons and cover the toilet and the card table with purple crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her mother calmly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Hephzibah Bristol. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a pair of tongs."
"Hey," Martina responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a belch. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."