Switching the Setting

Plans

After riding with Samantha in the fields, I had to go home. I told her I would see her tomorrow and that she should have a fun time at tonight's party. Sam told me she would, and that I should try to have a fun tonight as well.

When I got home I made myself a bowl of cereal, then went up to my room. I heard voices in Mom and Pa's room even though they weren't supposed to be home from work yet. I grabbed the stick in the hallway (I have no idea why it was there!) and headed down.

I gripped the stick tighter than set down my cereal bowl outside the door. I pressed on the door lightly so it would open. I looked through the crack just to find my mom and my pa talking. I leaned on the stick, relieved that there weren't other people in my house.

"Hi Mom. Hi Pa. Why are you back so early?"

"Oh, we're just planning your birthday party."

I had totally forgotten my birthday was coming up. It was on Saturday which only gave a week and one day to prepare.

"Cool! So, what have you got planned?"

"Well, the theme is going to be confetti. You will have dots everything! Dot plates, dot cups, a circle for piñata, a white batter cake with no batter add-ins and those big dot sprinkles on it, dot gift bags with whatever gifts you'd like to put on them, and yeah, that's pretty much it! Oh and you can invite all of your friends. Even the ones who you're not super close to!"

"That sounds like it will be a great party Mom! Thanks so much for planning it!" I always liked to butter her up before my parties so she'll get more decorations and put more effort into it. Not that she and Pa needed to. They were always asked to plan all the parties out in our country, so they had plenty of experience. They always planned the best of the best and the parties were always awesome!

Something special must be happening as well, because I've never been allowed to invite ALL of my friends, even the ones I've only had at least 1 play date with.

"Mom? Is this party also going to be super special? I've never had all of my friends over at my party." I was trying to break her and get her I tell me the secret to the "party."

"Oh, well I just thought since you were turning twelve you'd want a large friend party, that's all."

I was disappointed at my answer.

"Okay. I'll be in my room."

I walked out of the room to find my cereal still sitting in the hallway, soggy.