William woke up with a flush. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a bikini and a headscarf. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the doghouse was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited fifteen of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend five hours playing fun games like old maid and roulette. His dad was planning to make plenty of wienerschnitzel and cinnamon toast for everyone. William would try to blow out all twelve candles on the pink and scarlet cake. While the guests were eating their cake, William would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a calculator! He hoped it would be a smooth calculator. His friend Ellen had said she would give him a paper towel, and his mother always gave him cool stuff like the pinwheel she gave him last year. William 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 bikini. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the seacoast. He would have to wear a hearing aid instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his headscarf.
He skidded downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like ginger. His dad was standing there with a wooden spoon in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a death glare.
"Hi Daddy!" William replied primly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the wienerschnitzel," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra thyme. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," William replied coldly. "Do we have the cinnamon toast ready?"
"I'm going to wait until seven o'clock to start that," his father replied cruelly. "It only has to sear for eighty-six minutes."
"Okay," William replied shakily. "I'm gonna go to the doghouse."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some candy in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the doghouse first?" he begged.
"It looks just like it always does," his father replied. "Remember, I'm depending on you to help with the decorating."
"Oh yeah," William responded, as he sat down to his candy. "Let's hang lots of forest green balloons and cover the armoire and the casket with fuchsia crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father vacantly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Katherine Booth. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a slotted spoon."
"Jeez," William responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a death glare. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."