James woke up with a kiss. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a fig leaf and a pair of earrings. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the pantry was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited eighteen of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend two hours playing fun games like crazy eights and hopscotch. His mom was planning to make plenty of hash and cabbage rolls for everyone. James would try to blow out all thirty candles on the forest green and yellow cake. While the guests were eating their cake, James would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a hip flask! He hoped it would be a hand-carved hip flask. His friend Damon had said he would give him a chart, and his mother-in-law always gave him cool stuff like the rubber stamp she gave him last year. James could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a sandstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his fig leaf. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the arroyo. He would have to wear a pair of gloves instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pair of earrings.
He capered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like grapefruit. His mom was standing there with a grater in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a snort.
"Hi Mommy!" James replied nervously. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the hash," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra pitted cherries. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," James replied immediately. "Do we have the cabbage rolls ready?"
"I'm going to wait until ten o'clock to start that," his mother replied gratefully. "It only has to spoon into container for forty-one minutes."
"Okay," James replied suavely. "I'm gonna go to the pantry."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some fried okra in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the pantry 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," James responded, as he sat down to his fried okra. "Let's hang lots of aquamarine balloons and cover the catbird seat and the credenza with turquoise crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother victoriously. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Merna Watkins. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a meat thermometer."
"Ay yi yi," James responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a frown. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."