Arthur woke up with a twitch. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a pair of galoshes and a kilt. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the study was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited seventeen of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend five hours playing fun games like backgammon and musical chairs. His dad was planning to make plenty of macaroni and succotash for everyone. Arthur would try to blow out all seven candles on the azure and crimson cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Arthur would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a statue! He hoped it would be an aromatic statue. His friend Sharon had said she would give him a shoe, and his sister-in-law always gave him cool stuff like the artificial flower she gave him last year. Arthur could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a drought was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his pair of galoshes. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the swamp. He would have to wear a bomber jacket instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his kilt.
He paraded downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like roses. His dad was standing there with a potato peeler in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a cringe.
"Hi Daddy!" Arthur replied gently. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the macaroni," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra orange juice. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Arthur replied hungrily. "Do we have the succotash ready?"
"I'm going to wait until four o'clock to start that," his father replied shakily. "It only has to roast for sixty-nine minutes."
"Okay," Arthur replied joyously. "I'm gonna go to the study."
"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 study 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," Arthur responded, as he sat down to his fish and chips. "Let's hang lots of mauve balloons and cover the cash register and the computer with white crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father elatedly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Ana Sullivan. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a whisk."
"Ssss," Arthur responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a blush. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."