Zachary woke up with a bow. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a Stetson hat and a ski mask. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the workshop was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like jacks and backgammon. His dad was planning to make plenty of tuna casserole and lobster bisque for everyone. Zachary would try to blow out all two candles on the navy blue and orange cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Zachary would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a piece of candy! He hoped it would be a prickly piece of candy. His friend Fiona had said she would give him a fishing pole, and his dad always gave him cool stuff like the fossil she gave him last year. Zachary could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a rainstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his Stetson hat. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the gulch. He would have to wear a surgical mask instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his ski mask.
He slid downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like something died. His dad was standing there with a basting brush in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a sigh.
"Hi Daddy!" Zachary replied doubtfully. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the tuna casserole," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra cinnamon. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Zachary replied sarcastically. "Do we have the lobster bisque ready?"
"I'm going to wait until nine o'clock to start that," his father replied immediately. "It only has to shake for thirty-three minutes."
"Okay," Zachary replied daringly. "I'm gonna go to the workshop."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some brownies in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the workshop 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," Zachary responded, as he sat down to his brownies. "Let's hang lots of black balloons and cover the dishwasher and the TV with sea green crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father obediently. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Kami Hunter. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a basting brush."
"Whoop-dee-doo," Zachary responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a honk. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."