Sven woke up with a flush. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a stovepipe hat and a toga. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the game room was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-four of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend five hours playing fun games like old maid and backgammon. His mom was planning to make plenty of lasagna and candy for everyone. Sven would try to blow out all seven candles on the teal and silver cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Sven would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a pail! He hoped it would be an excellent pail. His friend Vance had said he would give him a cracker, and his cousin always gave him cool stuff like the dictionary she gave him last year. Sven could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a hot, sunny day was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his stovepipe hat. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the grassland. He would have to wear a sombrero instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his toga.
He sneaked downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like pickles. His mom was standing there with a sharp knife in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a laugh.
"Hi Mommy!" Sven replied languidly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the lasagna," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra chili powder. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Sven replied fervently. "Do we have the candy ready?"
"I'm going to wait until twelve o'clock to start that," his mother replied arrogantly. "It only has to simmer for fifty-six minutes."
"Okay," Sven replied gruffly. "I'm gonna go to the game room."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some egg salad sandwich in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the game room 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," Sven responded, as he sat down to his egg salad sandwich. "Let's hang lots of pink balloons and cover the ping-pong table and the hope chest with pea green crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother blissfully. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Samina Orman. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has an electric mixer."
"Godspeed," Sven responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a pout. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."