Nicholas woke up with a growl. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a headscarf and a leotard. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the ballroom was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited seven of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend one hour playing fun games like Rummy and doctor. His dad was planning to make plenty of lobster bisque and roast turkey for everyone. Nicholas would try to blow out all thirty-five candles on the amber and azure cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Nicholas would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a mushroom! He hoped it would be a cotton mushroom. His friend Mackenzie had said she would give him a whoopee cushion, and his cousin always gave him cool stuff like the antenna she gave him last year. Nicholas could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a flood was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his headscarf. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the moonscape. He would have to wear a smartwatch instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his leotard.
He sailed downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like baby powder. His dad was standing there with a food processor in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a sigh.
"Hi Daddy!" Nicholas replied frantically. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the lobster bisque," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra sesame seeds. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Nicholas replied recklessly. "Do we have the roast turkey ready?"
"I'm going to wait until eight o'clock to start that," his father replied slowly. "It only has to poach lightly for forty-two minutes."
"Okay," Nicholas replied obediently. "I'm gonna go to the ballroom."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some hamburgers in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the ballroom 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," Nicholas responded, as he sat down to his hamburgers. "Let's hang lots of brilliant orange balloons and cover the display case and the ping-pong table with white crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father vigorously. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Katie Giddings. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a ladle."
"Pssst," Nicholas responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a giggle. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."