My kind of kid

The tv turned on this afternoon to some story about a preposterous birthday party for a grade-school kid (8? 9?) with a marvelous ending.

I came in on something like, "Princess dress for the birthday girl, $750; rented castle, $20,000; birthday cake, $2,300...." I wasn't paying enough attention to get the whole list, but the punch line was that the total ticket was something over $32,000.

I was rolling my eyes when I caught the camera panning to a purple bird—part of the birthday cake? a piñata?—that had played a pivotal role in the party. I have no clue what the whole story was, but the purple bird was supposed to have been blue...

I feel really bad for whoever was responsible for the bird, because I'm sure they not only didn't get paid but also probably got ripped—and, at those prices, probably sued for ruining the "little princess's" birthday party. Because from the time she spotted the purple bird, the princess was distraught, her makeup rolled down her face (yes, the tot had on mascara to go with the princess dress), and the party was pretty well over with.

Get a clue, parents: it's a kid's birthday party, and with any luck, she'll live to have another one.

I'm guessing the price tag of this one was about 32 grand more than what it should have been.

I'm halfway sorry the kid's party was so disappointing for her, but I'm thrilled that the parents got what they so richly deserved—and you can take that any way you want to!