Calvin 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 toga and a false beard. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the rec room was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-three of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend three hours playing fun games like poker and tennis. His dad was planning to make plenty of lime sherbet and cherries jubilee for everyone. Calvin would try to blow out all thirty candles on the peach and white cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Calvin would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a balloon! He hoped it would be an abnormal balloon. His friend Elly had said she would give him a bowl, and his friend always gave him cool stuff like the cigarette she gave him last year. Calvin could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a hot day was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his toga. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the village. He would have to wear a pair of earmuffs instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his false beard.
He breezed downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like a dusty attic. His dad was standing there with a basting brush in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with an evil eye.
"Hi Daddy!" Calvin replied crankily. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the lime sherbet," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra wine vinegar. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Calvin replied lightly. "Do we have the cherries jubilee ready?"
"I'm going to wait until seven o'clock to start that," his father replied ruefully. "It only has to place on serving dish for eighty-six minutes."
"Okay," Calvin replied arrogantly. "I'm gonna go to the rec room."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some tofu in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the rec room 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," Calvin responded, as he sat down to his tofu. "Let's hang lots of azure balloons and cover the table and the dresser with sea green crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father vigorously. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Candi Sitting Bird. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a pair of tongs."
"Shazam," Calvin responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a snuffle. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."