Matt woke up with a snicker. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a blanket and a business suit. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the tool shed was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited nineteen of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend one hour playing fun games like jump rope and poker. His mom was planning to make plenty of biscuits and gravy and pecan pie for everyone. Matt would try to blow out all twenty-eight candles on the turquoise and chocolate brown cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Matt would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain an abacus! He hoped it would be an overgrown abacus. His friend Gerald had said he would give him a shoe, and his grandmother always gave him cool stuff like the chamber pot she gave him last year. Matt could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a hurricane was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his blanket. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the savanna. He would have to wear a skirt instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his business suit.
He strode downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like paint. His mom was standing there with a meat tenderizer in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a beam.
"Hi Mommy!" Matt replied strangely. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the biscuits and gravy," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra English muffin. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Matt replied cautiously. "Do we have the pecan pie ready?"
"I'm going to wait until five o'clock to start that," his mother replied woodenly. "It only has to roast for seventeen minutes."
"Okay," Matt replied breathlessly. "I'm gonna go to the tool shed."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some tuna casserole in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the tool shed 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," Matt responded, as he sat down to his tuna casserole. "Let's hang lots of sea green balloons and cover the bench and the file cabinet with green crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother sagely. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Cindy Bobble. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has an ice pick."
"Inconceivable," Matt responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a crow. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."