Jürgen woke up with a grimace. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a pair of boxer shorts and a pair of heels. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the nursery was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited nine of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend five hours playing fun games like jacks and Parcheesi. His dad was planning to make plenty of blueberry pie and cabbage for everyone. Jürgen would try to blow out all nineteen candles on the chocolate brown and red cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Jürgen would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a toolbox! He hoped it would be a cardboard toolbox. His friend Griselda had said she would give him a pair of knitting needles, and his mother-in-law always gave him cool stuff like the package she gave him last year. Jürgen could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a rainbow was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his pair of boxer shorts. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the savanna. He would have to wear a pair of jackboots instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pair of heels.
He sashayed downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like a wet dog. His dad was standing there with a turkey baster in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with an air kiss.
"Hi Daddy!" Jürgen replied hungrily. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the blueberry pie," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra potato flakes. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Jürgen replied greedily. "Do we have the cabbage ready?"
"I'm going to wait until ten o'clock to start that," his father replied smoothly. "It only has to fry for thirty-three minutes."
"Okay," Jürgen replied bitterly. "I'm gonna go to the nursery."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some Hamburger Helper in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the nursery 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," Jürgen responded, as he sat down to his Hamburger Helper. "Let's hang lots of hot pink balloons and cover the pedestal and the safe with hot pink crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father accidentally. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Stacy Black. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a garlic press."
"Ha," Jürgen 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."