Geraldo woke up with a wink. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in an Armani suit and a locket. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the dungeon was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-two of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like treasure hunt and musical chairs. His dad was planning to make plenty of clam chowder and hors d'oeuvre for everyone. Geraldo would try to blow out all twenty-seven candles on the lavender and striped cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Geraldo would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a piano! He hoped it would be a wooden piano. His friend Cindi had said she would give him a yo-yo, and his mentor always gave him cool stuff like the doll she gave him last year. Geraldo could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a dust storm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his Armani suit. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the dumpster. He would have to wear a big smile instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his locket.
He tramped downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like a compost pile. His dad was standing there with a strainer in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a bow.
"Hi Daddy!" Geraldo replied smoothly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the clam chowder," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra trout. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Geraldo replied dolorously. "Do we have the hors d'oeuvre ready?"
"I'm going to wait until eleven o'clock to start that," his father replied ruefully. "It only has to place on serving dish for fifty-eight minutes."
"Okay," Geraldo replied delicately. "I'm gonna go to the dungeon."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some catfish stew in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the dungeon 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," Geraldo responded, as he sat down to his catfish stew. "Let's hang lots of tan balloons and cover the settee and the canopy bed with terra cotta crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father fiercely. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Brenda Brooks. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a pair of chopsticks."
"Oh well," Geraldo responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a hiccup. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."