Chad woke up with a squint. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a blazer and a jerkin. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the doghouse was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited five of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend six hours playing fun games like volleyball and dominos. His mom was planning to make plenty of apple pie and potatoes and gravy for everyone. Chad would try to blow out all fifteen candles on the sea green and azure cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Chad would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a purse! He hoped it would be a mysterious purse. His friend Roy had said he would give him a feather, and his fiancée always gave him cool stuff like the pail she gave him last year. Chad could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a windstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his blazer. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the field. He would have to wear a black armband instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his jerkin.
He zoomed downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like pumpkin pie. His mom was standing there with a piece of cheesecloth in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a tear.
"Hi Mommy!" Chad replied violently. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the apple pie," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra lime Jell-O. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Chad replied recklessly. "Do we have the potatoes and gravy ready?"
"I'm going to wait until nine o'clock to start that," his mother replied admiringly. "It only has to scramble for eighty-nine minutes."
"Okay," Chad replied innocently. "I'm gonna go to the doghouse."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some fondue in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the doghouse 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," Chad responded, as he sat down to his fondue. "Let's hang lots of chocolate brown balloons and cover the hammock and the bookcase with jet black crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother nervously. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Meghan Hensley. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a strainer."
"Holy Mother of Petunias," Chad responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a woof. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."