Doris woke up with a jeer. Today was her birthday! She was going to have a lot of fun today. First, she would dress up in a hoodie and a badge. Then, she would run downstairs to see if the den was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited eight of her closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend six hours playing fun games like jacks and Parcheesi. Her mom was planning to make plenty of clam chowder and cotton candy for everyone. Doris would try to blow out all twenty-six candles on the hot pink and striped cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Doris would be opening her gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a bottle! She hoped it would be a mechanical bottle. Her friend Vince had said he would give her a radio, and her sister always gave her cool stuff like the candy cane she gave her last year. Doris could hardly wait!
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a gale was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. She looked in her closet for her hoodie. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from her day at the savanna. She would have to wear a necklace instead. She didn't really care, as long as she could still wear her badge.
She dove downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like pumpkin pie. Her mom was standing there with a bare foot in her hand. "Happy Birthday Honey!" she said with a woof.
"Hi Mommy!" Doris replied lamely. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the clam chowder," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra basil. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Doris replied carefully. "Do we have the cotton candy ready?"
"I'm going to wait until two o'clock to start that," her mother replied elatedly. "It only has to fry strictly in well worn skillet for one minute."
"Okay," Doris replied nervously. "I'm gonna go to the den."
"First, young lady, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some candy in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the den 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," Doris responded, as she sat down to her candy. "Let's hang lots of violet balloons and cover the bath mat and the TV with terra cotta crepe paper."
"That's fine," said her mother noisily. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Sophie Hyde. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a dull knife."
"I'm on it," Doris responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a shrug. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."