Ole woke up with a tear. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a pair of shin guards and a black armband. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the workshop was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited three of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like blackjack and cribbage. His dad was planning to make plenty of sauerkraut and chicken gumbo for everyone. Ole would try to blow out all twenty-six candles on the indigo and azure cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Ole would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a can of sardines! He hoped it would be a brittle can of sardines. His friend Brandie had said she would give him a bag of potato chips, and his fiancée always gave him cool stuff like the dollhouse she gave him last year. Ole could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a sleet storm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his pair of shin guards. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the gulch. He would have to wear a pair of jeans instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his black armband.
He walked downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like mushrooms. His dad was standing there with a spoon in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a bound.
"Hi Daddy!" Ole replied cautiously. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the sauerkraut," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra potato chips. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Ole replied shyly. "Do we have the chicken gumbo ready?"
"I'm going to wait until seven o'clock to start that," his father replied ignobly. "It only has to bake at 450 degrees F for forty-seven minutes."
"Okay," Ole replied sheepishly. "I'm gonna go to the workshop."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some mulligan stew in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the workshop 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," Ole responded, as he sat down to his mulligan stew. "Let's hang lots of carrot-orange balloons and cover the safe and the table with jade crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father again. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Darcy Wibbles. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a dish cloth."
"Ssss," Ole responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a backward glance. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."