Chapter 49 Section VI

Ruby tugged at her brother's shorts. "Please, Jack, let me see!" "Wait a minute." Jack didn't take his eyes off the console. "I almost made it through." Ruby's two small fists were on her buttocks, and the whole thing was a small Pippa. "Ella, tell him!" "Jack, would you like to let Ruby play a game too?" "Success!" Jack cheered triumphantly.He shoved the game console into his sister's hands. "Here you are, Tuesday." "B-home!" Cynthia Clayton's voice sang through the corridor. "Is there some rascal hiding here?"

"Grandma!" Ruby yelled, and the Nintendo console was history.She rushed out to meet her grandmother. "Hi, Grandma," Ella greeted Cynthia, who poked her head through the door, with Ruby hanging on Granny's shoulder. "Jack is the only troublemaker in the house. You know that. Me and Tuesday have been perfect." "But you don't seem to say it perfectly. Me and Tuesday? Luckily your mother didn't hear, Ella. Two mistakes in one sentence. Now, what do you think is the right way to say it?" "Me on Tuesday?" Ella ventured knowing that was the wrong answer.

"Ruby and I," Cynthia said. "I know it might seem pedantic, but sloppy language reflects sloppy mentality. As for the silly nicknames..." "But you sometimes call Cathy Rhett," Ella protested. "Just to stimulate your mother, dear." Cynthia looked around the room. "I seemed to hear Jack's voice when I came in?" "He just slipped out the back door." "Sneak off, miss? Can we make a special effort to use standard English on your mother's birthday?" "Someone's talking about birthdays?" Pippa appeared in the corridor, pressing a kiss to her mother's cheek.She took a few steps back, looking up and down at her mother's attire. "Oh. Did you get that envelope I left you?"

"I got it, thank you, honey," Cynthia said to her daughter. "But it just doesn't seem like it's worth spending that much money on a dress. It's not because there's only family at the party. It's just that the money could be spent on more valuable things." Pippa made no attempt to hide her frustration. "Mom?" Pippa looked at Ella, then at Ruby.Say to Ella, "I suppose you're not going to embarrass me too, miss?" Ella looked up from the phone. "What did I do again?" Pippa tapped her watch. "It's time, Ella. You should get dressed and get ready by now"

"I'm ready." Ella looked down at the phone again. Pippa leaned over and took the phone out of Ella's hand.Press and hold the power button, the shutdown bell will sound. "Go upstairs. Immediately. Put on that blue dress I bought you." "But you said that dress should only be worn on special occasions." Red appeared at the door, toweling his hair. "No occasion is more special than your mother's birthday, Ayres." To Cynthia, "Good morning, Mrs. Sheen" "In case I get burger juice or ketchup on the dress," Ella retorted. "The clothes are completely ruined."

Cynthia nodded and smiled at Rhett in response, and then defended her granddaughter. "Ella's right, honey. Even dry cleaning won't remove a stain like that." "That's why there isn't any greasy food on the menu," Pippa said. Rhett, Cynthia, and Ella exchanged puzzled glances, none of them willing to ask the obvious question. After a moment of silence, Rhett decided to take the risk. "I know that sounds like a stupid question, lawyer, but how do you get burgers and sausages that aren't greasy? And they need ketchup. You can't have BBQ without ketchup."

Pippa looked at Rhett. "Sausages? Burgers? Who said it was going to be a BBQ?" Rhett glared at Pippa. "you said!" "I didn't say that. I remember the phrase I used was an 'alfresco dining experience'. Nothing to do with eating offal." Pip glanced at her watch. "As a matter of fact, the people who set up the tents should be here soon." "You hired a circus?" "Funny, Cassandra. Just a little tent. Well, obviously, considering the size of our garden. I hope the gardener has mowed the lawn as I ordered." "I saw him over there with a ruler, measuring the length of each blade of grass, lawyer."

Pippa glared at Rhett. "I hope you won't make such childish jokes when the guests arrive." Rhett opened his mouth. "Is there anything we need to know, guest?" "Of course there will be guests. This is my birthday after all." Pippa stroked her dress, as if smoothing out invisible wrinkles.Pippa's exposition was interrupted by the doorbell.She turned to Cynthia, "Mom, can I trouble you? Take them to the side hall to settle down and then go directly to the back garden." Rhett glared at Pippa. "I'll go upstairs and get ready. Jeans and a smock would be fine, right? Or is this a formal occasion?"

Upstairs, Rhett looked out the window of Ella's room for a moment, overlooking the door.A group of young men, dressed in black and white, shuttled back and forth carrying silver dishes, and the scene was interrupted by men carrying poles and canvas to pitch tents. "The timing is just right, Pip," she said to herself. "Tents and food arrive at the same time." "What did you say?" Pippa appeared at the door, holding a tube of lipstick. "I was just admiring the tent," Red said.She followed Pippa back to her room. "How many guests will come today?"

Pippa stamped her lips with a tissue and turned from the mirror. "Oh, you know. Just the gang. How do I look?" "Looks like you've been caught out." "What's the meaning?" "It means you're misleading us into thinking it's a small family gathering, but you're busy planning such a big dinner." Pippa looked very surprised. "Really, Cathy. I asked you who you wanted to invite. You said Elizabeth would come, didn't you?" "And you have..." "Just a few colleagues and acquaintances in the law firm."

"several?" "Well, I sent out 30 invitations, but of course not all of them can come." "So, it's possible that only 29 people will come," Rhett said grimly. Pippa waved dismissively. "If it's a big problem for you, invite a few more people. Anyway, there's quite a lot of food prepared."