Cameron woke up with a shrug. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a toga and a blouse. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the dining room was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited eight of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend seven hours playing fun games like chess and hearts. His dad was planning to make plenty of mushroom quiche and cinnamon toast for everyone. Cameron would try to blow out all two candles on the blue and fuchsia cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Cameron would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a muffin! He hoped it would be a rare muffin. His friend Callie had said she would give him a pumpkin, and his wife always gave him cool stuff like the book she gave him last year. Cameron could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a snowstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his toga. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the briar patch. He would have to wear a feather boa instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his blouse.
He reeled downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like airplane glue. His dad was standing there with a meat tenderizer in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a pound of the chest.
"Hi Daddy!" Cameron replied wearily. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the mushroom quiche," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra turmeric. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Cameron replied vacantly. "Do we have the cinnamon toast ready?"
"I'm going to wait until ten o'clock to start that," his father replied recklessly. "It only has to marinate for sixty-five minutes."
"Okay," Cameron replied menacingly. "I'm gonna go to the dining room."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some shrimp in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the dining room 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," Cameron responded, as he sat down to his shrimp. "Let's hang lots of black balloons and cover the dresser and the armoire with lavender crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father carelessly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Georgina Mallory. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a ladle."
"Oh joy," Cameron responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a laugh. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."