Lars woke up with a shiver. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a bomber jacket and a scarf. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the foyer was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-six of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend six hours playing fun games like backgammon and Rummy. His mom was planning to make plenty of succotash and fondue for everyone. Lars would try to blow out all fifteen candles on the jet black and beige cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Lars would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a telephone book! He hoped it would be an ordinary telephone book. His friend Brent had said he would give him a pencil, and his mother-in-law always gave him cool stuff like the mirror she gave him last year. Lars could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a hailstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his bomber jacket. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the range. He would have to wear a pocket watch instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his scarf.
He reeled downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like black pepper. His mom was standing there with a ladle in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a smack.
"Hi Mommy!" Lars replied ferociously. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the succotash," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra wasabi powder. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Lars replied threateningly. "Do we have the fondue ready?"
"I'm going to wait until six o'clock to start that," his mother replied primly. "It only has to shake for fifty-seven minutes."
"Okay," Lars replied arrogantly. "I'm gonna go to the foyer."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some hot dogs in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the foyer 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," Lars responded, as he sat down to his hot dogs. "Let's hang lots of pink balloons and cover the bookcase and the cushion with peach crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother ingeniously. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Xenia Loring. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a spoon."
"Blecch," Lars responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a gasp. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."