Shane woke up with a raspberry. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a pair of cargo pants and a tailcoat. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the study was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-three of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend five hours playing fun games like Snakes and Ladders and follow the leader. His mom was planning to make plenty of pie a la mode and lobster bisque for everyone. Shane would try to blow out all twenty-one candles on the mauve and mauve cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Shane would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a toolbox! He hoped it would be a wet toolbox. His friend Scott had said he would give him a pumpkin, and his dad always gave him cool stuff like the necklace she gave him last year. Shane could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a period of warm weather was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his pair of cargo pants. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the hayfield. He would have to wear a bib instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his tailcoat.
He staggered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like Max Factor. His mom was standing there with a candy thermometer in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a sniff.
"Hi Mommy!" Shane replied nervously. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the pie a la mode," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra mushrooms. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Shane replied narrowly. "Do we have the lobster bisque ready?"
"I'm going to wait until four o'clock to start that," his mother replied vacantly. "It only has to poach lightly for fifty-one minutes."
"Okay," Shane replied cunningly. "I'm gonna go to the study."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some hot dogs in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the study 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," Shane responded, as he sat down to his hot dogs. "Let's hang lots of ivory balloons and cover the cash register and the couch with silver crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother doubtfully. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Hagit Falcon. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a slotted spoon."
"Boohoo," Shane responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a squint. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."