Lee woke up with a growl. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a Panama hat and a pair of glasses. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the cage was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited nine of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend seven hours playing fun games like leapfrog and bridge. His dad was planning to make plenty of pumpkin pie and roast Cornish game hen for everyone. Lee would try to blow out all six candles on the purple and aquamarine cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Lee would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a cactus plant! He hoped it would be a charming cactus plant. His friend Jessica had said she would give him a smart phone, and his sister-in-law always gave him cool stuff like the battery she gave him last year. Lee could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a rainbow was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his Panama hat. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the island. He would have to wear a headband instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pair of glasses.
He scampered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like fresh coffee. His dad was standing there with an electric mixer in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a snigger.
"Hi Daddy!" Lee replied perkily. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the pumpkin pie," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra canned pineapple. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Lee replied bravely. "Do we have the roast Cornish game hen ready?"
"I'm going to wait until eight o'clock to start that," his father replied tearfully. "It only has to roast for thirty minutes."
"Okay," Lee replied tensely. "I'm gonna go to the cage."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some fondue in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the cage 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," Lee responded, as he sat down to his fondue. "Let's hang lots of white balloons and cover the mattress and the water bed with beige crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father daintily. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Anastasia Foreman. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a grater."
"Isht," Lee responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a pout. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."