Jules woke up with a snarl. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in an Armani suit and a gladiator helmet. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the lounge was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited six of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend four hours playing fun games like red light green light and bridge. His mom was planning to make plenty of mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes for everyone. Jules would try to blow out all five candles on the aquamarine and maroon cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Jules would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a billiard ball! He hoped it would be a speckled billiard ball. His friend Norman had said he would give him a piece of paper, and his grandmother always gave him cool stuff like the cactus plant she gave him last year. Jules could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that an ice storm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his Armani suit. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the grassland. He would have to wear a scarf instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his gladiator helmet.
He slid downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like a barnyard. His mom was standing there with a spoon in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a grunt.
"Hi Mommy!" Jules replied roughly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the mashed potatoes," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra cream of mushroom soup. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Jules replied caustically. "Do we have the sweet potatoes ready?"
"I'm going to wait until ten o'clock to start that," his mother replied pityingly. "It only has to mix resignedly for sixty-five minutes."
"Okay," Jules replied sarcastically. "I'm gonna go to the lounge."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some dirty rice in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the lounge first?" he begged.
"It looks just like it always does," his mother replied. "Remember, I'm depending on you to help with the decorating."
"Oh yeah," Jules responded, as he sat down to his dirty rice. "Let's hang lots of purple balloons and cover the four-poster bed and the safe with turquoise crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother kindly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Stephanie Dotson. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a meat thermometer."
"Rats," Jules responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a cheer. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."