“This is not what I asked for!” I exploded. “I wanted the blue balloons over red, the streamers not confetti, and the blueberries instead of raisins! This is a nightmare!” I could feel my cheeks getting hotter by the minute. My blonde hair was sticking to my face as I stressed over this party that has to be perfect.

This surprise birthday party for Bridget is going to be a disaster. Not only will my friend be disappointed, but my party planning reputation will go down the drain.

"Cecile, the cake has arrived,” Pablo loudly announced as he strolled into the living room.

“Thank you Pablo. Is it marble cake, just like I asked for?” I inquired. I noticed that the frosting was swirled around the cake and ‘Happy Birthday Bridget’ was inscribed in big blue letters on the cake. It was perfect.

My cell phone started to ring. I almost answered until I saw the caller ID, Bridget. I quickly pressed ignore. Bridget and I are best friends but I promised I’d go to the mall with her and then ignored her. I needed to get her away from her brown, two-story house so I could plan her party. I still feel a little guilty because it’s her birthday, but she will understand in the end.

The voicemail said, “Hey Cecile, its Bridget. What happened to our plans? Why aren’t you responding to my calls? You do remember it’s my birthday, right? Ugh! Please just call me back now!”

This was the fifth time she has called and I can tell she is getting angry. I just picture her standing in the middle of Weathervane Mall with her bright green eyes full of anxiety, her brown hair in a messy bun, and with her favorite t-shirt on, screaming into her blackberry. I almost laughed out loud, even though I probably looked similar. I slipped a glance at the mirror. My blonde hair was falling out of my French braid, my blue eyes had bags underneath them, my shirt was covered in stains, and my throat ached from yelling all over the house.

This was not the usual Cecile.