Antonio woke up with a backward glance. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a bandana and a coat. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the pantry was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-two of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend seven hours playing fun games like solitaire and cribbage. His dad was planning to make plenty of hors d'oeuvre and cookies for everyone. Antonio would try to blow out all twenty-one candles on the crimson and salmon cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Antonio would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a hot potato! He hoped it would be a used hot potato. His friend Mandy had said she would give him a crayon, and his friend always gave him cool stuff like the peanut she gave him last year. Antonio could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a dust storm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his bandana. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the path. He would have to wear a military uniform instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his coat.
He sidled downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like Magic Markers. His dad was standing there with a wooden spoon in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a titter.
"Hi Daddy!" Antonio replied timidly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the hors d'oeuvre," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra Italian seasoning. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Antonio replied stealthily. "Do we have the cookies ready?"
"I'm going to wait until three o'clock to start that," his father replied charmingly. "It only has to mix coldly for forty-eight minutes."
"Okay," Antonio replied furiously. "I'm gonna go to the pantry."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some fish and chips 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 father replied. "Remember, I'm depending on you to help with the decorating."
"Oh yeah," Antonio responded, as he sat down to his fish and chips. "Let's hang lots of turquoise balloons and cover the water bed and the ottoman with amber crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father blindly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Tracy Rogers. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a bare foot."
"I'm outta here," Antonio responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with an evil eye. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."