Chuck woke up with a sigh. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a set of braces and a girdle. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the garage was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited thirty of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend one hour playing fun games like chess and volleyball. His dad was planning to make plenty of chicken soup and pumpkin pie for everyone. Chuck would try to blow out all four candles on the fuchsia and emerald green cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Chuck would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a remote control! He hoped it would be a delicate remote control. His friend Maureen had said she would give him a pen, and his mother-in-law always gave him cool stuff like the magazine she gave him last year. Chuck could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a sleet storm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his set of braces. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the valley. He would have to wear a burqa instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his girdle.
He rushed downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like pipe tobacco. His dad was standing there with a piece of cheesecloth in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with an air kiss.
"Hi Daddy!" Chuck replied crankily. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the chicken soup," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra fava beans. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Chuck replied violently. "Do we have the pumpkin pie ready?"
"I'm going to wait until one o'clock to start that," his father replied excitedly. "It only has to mix anxiously for eighty-eight minutes."
"Okay," Chuck replied timidly. "I'm gonna go to the garage."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some fried okra in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the garage 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," Chuck responded, as he sat down to his fried okra. "Let's hang lots of fuchsia balloons and cover the bath mat and the TV with amber crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father perkily. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Angie Nixon. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a whisk."
"Holy cow," Chuck responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a gurgle. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."