Nathan woke up with a chortle. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a pair of dungarees and a parka. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the study 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 blackjack and chess. His dad was planning to make plenty of popcorn and lime sherbet for everyone. Nathan would try to blow out all seven candles on the khaki and hot pink cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Nathan would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a chess set! He hoped it would be a big chess set. His friend Julieann had said she would give him a file folder, and his girlfriend always gave him cool stuff like the boomerang she gave him last year. Nathan could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a gale was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his pair of dungarees. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the outback. He would have to wear a pair of contact lenses instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his parka.
He sallied forth downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like pumpkin pie. His dad was standing there with a garlic press in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a woof.
"Hi Daddy!" Nathan replied menacingly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the popcorn," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra pitted cherries. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Nathan replied swiftly. "Do we have the lime sherbet ready?"
"I'm going to wait until six o'clock to start that," his father replied proudly. "It only has to sear outside for seventy-six minutes."
"Okay," Nathan replied pitifully. "I'm gonna go to the study."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some chocolate-covered ants in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the study 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," Nathan responded, as he sat down to his chocolate-covered ants. "Let's hang lots of rose balloons and cover the hatstand and the bookshelf with polka dotted crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father primly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Velma Eaton. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a knife."
"Whoa," Nathan responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a beam. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."