Demetrius woke up with a chuckle. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a badge and a pair of earmuffs. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the den was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited eleven of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend seven hours playing fun games like jump rope and poker. His mom was planning to make plenty of candy and lobster bisque for everyone. Demetrius would try to blow out all thirty-one candles on the polka dotted and maroon cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Demetrius would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a cactus plant! He hoped it would be a fabulous cactus plant. His friend Kris had said he would give him a rubber chicken, and his grandfather always gave him cool stuff like the bowling ball she gave him last year. Demetrius could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a typhoon was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his badge. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the gulch. He would have to wear a shawl instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pair of earmuffs.
He pranced downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like Chanel. His mom was standing there with a cheesecloth in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a cheer.
"Hi Mommy!" Demetrius replied testily. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the candy," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra dill pickles. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Demetrius replied lightly. "Do we have the lobster bisque ready?"
"I'm going to wait until five o'clock to start that," his mother replied steadily. "It only has to steam for forty-three minutes."
"Okay," Demetrius replied brightly. "I'm gonna go to the den."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some tacos in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the den 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," Demetrius responded, as he sat down to his tacos. "Let's hang lots of red balloons and cover the dishwasher and the casket with brilliant orange crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother unabashedly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Deirdre Arthur. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a pastry blender."
"Diddly poo," Demetrius responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a hug. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."