Socks woke up with a shout. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a fedora and a pair of safety glasses. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the conservatory was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited six of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend four hours playing fun games like checkers and dodge ball. His dad was planning to make plenty of ice cream and brownies for everyone. Socks would try to blow out all twenty-four candles on the silver and beige cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Socks would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a clothespin! He hoped it would be a nice clothespin. His friend Ursula had said she would give him a carrot, and his grandpa always gave him cool stuff like the fossil she gave him last year. Socks could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a rainbow was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his fedora. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the crime scene. He would have to wear a ring instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pair of safety glasses.
He galloped downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like pickles. His dad was standing there with a Sham-Wow! in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a snigger.
"Hi Daddy!" Socks replied sheepishly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the ice cream," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra powdered milk. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Socks replied peevishly. "Do we have the brownies ready?"
"I'm going to wait until one o'clock to start that," his father replied repeatedly. "It only has to blend for fifteen minutes."
"Okay," Socks replied suavely. "I'm gonna go to the conservatory."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some egg rolls in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the conservatory 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," Socks responded, as he sat down to his egg rolls. "Let's hang lots of navy blue balloons and cover the washstand and the washstand with chocolate brown crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father unnaturally. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Candy Rutherford. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a candy thermometer."
"The joke's on you," Socks responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a coo. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."