Solomon woke up with a flinch. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a ski mask and a dog collar. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the outhouse was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-six of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend four hours playing fun games like duck duck goose and jump rope. His dad was planning to make plenty of moo goo gai pan and ice cream for everyone. Solomon would try to blow out all three candles on the forest green and chartreuse cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Solomon would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a lollipop! He hoped it would be a huge lollipop. His friend Claudette had said she would give him a hip flask, and his grandmother always gave him cool stuff like the paperclip she gave him last year. Solomon could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a period of warm weather was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his ski mask. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the crime scene. He would have to wear a bodysuit instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his dog collar.
He went downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like anise. His dad was standing there with a dish cloth in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a shrug.
"Hi Daddy!" Solomon replied demurely. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the moo goo gai pan," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra parsnips. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Solomon replied daintily. "Do we have the ice cream ready?"
"I'm going to wait until six o'clock to start that," his father replied curiously. "It only has to broil for eighty-seven minutes."
"Okay," Solomon replied strictly. "I'm gonna go to the outhouse."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some hash in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the outhouse 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," Solomon responded, as he sat down to his hash. "Let's hang lots of sparkly balloons and cover the stool and the crib with magenta crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father arrogantly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Vicki Pike. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a dull knife."
"Ppppbbbft," Solomon responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a gasp. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."