Johnny 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 maxi skirt and a jerkin. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the pool room was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited fourteen of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend three hours playing fun games like tennis and tag. His mom was planning to make plenty of Froot Loops and tacos for everyone. Johnny would try to blow out all thirty-two candles on the brown and lavender cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Johnny would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a paperclip! He hoped it would be a hefty paperclip. His friend Preston had said he would give him an ice cream cone, and his mother-in-law always gave him cool stuff like the joint she gave him last year. Johnny 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 maxi skirt. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the valley. He would have to wear a mortarboard instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his jerkin.
He flounced downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like pesto. His mom was standing there with a strainer in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a crow.
"Hi Mommy!" Johnny replied resignedly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the Froot Loops," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra capers. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Johnny replied roughly. "Do we have the tacos ready?"
"I'm going to wait until five o'clock to start that," his mother replied sagely. "It only has to sauté for eighty-eight minutes."
"Okay," Johnny replied hungrily. "I'm gonna go to the pool room."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some beans in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the pool 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," Johnny responded, as he sat down to his beans. "Let's hang lots of black balloons and cover the sofa and the hope chest with teal crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother frenetically. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Kyra Sludge. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has an electric mixer."
"Totally rad," Johnny responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a wag of the finger. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."