A Backwards Tale

Once upon a time there were two girls who were born on the same day, exactly twelve minutes apart. They were inseparable from then on, and decided almost everything together. In the tenth year of their life, it was time for a glorious birthday party, but there was trouble in the land. "I want there to be pears as the 'best fruit'," said one. "But, I want it to be oranges," said the other. "Oh dear," said their mom, "let's just have both." "But that's stupid," they said. And, indeed, it was. Who has sixteen things on a list of top ten? It was time to think of something else. Being the cleverish mom that she was, she strapped on her super-mom-to-the-rescue cape and wielded her computer mouse to do some research. And, thank goodness, there are some super clever moms out there that really know what they're doing. In two shakes of a lambs nostril, she had a fabulous party idea that the twins were quite keen on: 

 A BACKWARDS BIRTHDAY BASH!!

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A few days later, the party guests arrived with their clothes on backwards. They all hung up their shoes in the coat closet, threw their coats on the floor, and put on their backwards name tags. First order of business: what usually comes last, birthday cake and ice cream. After two rousing renditions of "You To Birthday Happy" the girls and their seven party guests dined on upside down ice cream cone cupcakes lovingly made by a friend of their mother's. They were divine, and ever so silly. It was a miracle they all stopped giggling long enough to eat. Really. Their daddy could not believe the amount of giggling taking place. 

 After the opening of the gifts, accompanied by many 'You thank's and 'welcome your's and more serious bouts of giggles, it was a dream come true for the ten-year-olds to practice talking backwards to their hearts content. It was a dream for the daddy and mommy to be in the other room to prepare dinner, which, of course, was filled with breakfast food.  

Then there were games of backwards charades, pin the donkey on the tail, and a mixed-up "What If" question game that brought not only giggles, but squeals of delight. The girls daddy had never, ever heard such noise, and even the neighbors wondered that night if they heard something in the air. There would not have been an unbroken fancy champagne glass in the house, had the girls' parents owned any.

Our little story ends with a farewell for each guest (but the twins offered a hilarious 'hello!'), and each guest received a birthday gift of Inside Out Junior Mints and a pair of inside out socks. 

 The girls and their cape and computer-mouse-wielding mom lived exhaustingly, happily ever after. Their daddy is still recovering. (It's a very, very good thing they have fabulous friends and only do these kinds of things every few years.)