Gunther woke up with a grin. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a nightgown and a bra. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the hall was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-five of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend seven hours playing fun games like golf and tennis. His mom was planning to make plenty of potatoes and gravy and dry toast for everyone. Gunther would try to blow out all thirty-four candles on the emerald green and forest green cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Gunther would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a contract! He hoped it would be a mysterious contract. His friend Noel had said he would give him a cigar, and his fiancée always gave him cool stuff like the can of sardines she gave him last year. Gunther could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a downpour was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his nightgown. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the neighborhood. He would have to wear a bandana instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his bra.
He made a beeline downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like rotten eggs. His mom was standing there with a pair of tongs in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a giggle.
"Hi Mommy!" Gunther replied sharply. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the potatoes and gravy," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra canned milk. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Gunther replied wearily. "Do we have the dry toast ready?"
"I'm going to wait until ten o'clock to start that," his mother replied dolorously. "It only has to heat for sixty-one minutes."
"Okay," Gunther replied suddenly. "I'm gonna go to the hall."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some prune pudding in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the hall 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," Gunther responded, as he sat down to his prune pudding. "Let's hang lots of mauve balloons and cover the filing cabinet and the dishwasher with maroon crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother noisily. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Meg Walla. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a cookie cutter."
"Now we're talking," Gunther responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a giggle. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."