Anton woke up with a sniffle. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a pair of toe shoes and a lab coat. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the workshop was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited one of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend four hours playing fun games like golf and marbles. His mom was planning to make plenty of bonbons and strawberry shortcake for everyone. Anton would try to blow out all five candles on the jet black and beige cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Anton would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a lollipop! He hoped it would be a papery lollipop. His friend Romeo had said he would give him an orchid, and his wife always gave him cool stuff like the abacus she gave him last year. Anton could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a lightning storm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his pair of toe shoes. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the cave. He would have to wear a pair of dentures instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his lab coat.
He lumbered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like pencil shavings. His mom was standing there with a turkey baster in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a hoot.
"Hi Mommy!" Anton replied innocently. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the bonbons," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra lemon juice. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Anton replied testily. "Do we have the strawberry shortcake ready?"
"I'm going to wait until eight o'clock to start that," his mother replied joyously. "It only has to sear for eighteen minutes."
"Okay," Anton replied hastily. "I'm gonna go to the workshop."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some borscht 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 mother replied. "Remember, I'm depending on you to help with the decorating."
"Oh yeah," Anton responded, as he sat down to his borscht. "Let's hang lots of lime-green balloons and cover the canopy bed and the umbrella stand with navy blue crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother crankily. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Elvira Van Hook. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a wooden spoon."
"Wild," Anton responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a flinch. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."