Draco woke up with a laugh. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a pair of trousers and a nose ring. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the lounge was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited eight of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend two hours playing fun games like Parcheesi and treasure hunt. His dad was planning to make plenty of hamburgers and moo goo gai pan for everyone. Draco would try to blow out all six candles on the carrot-orange and forest green cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Draco would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a bagpipe! He hoped it would be a synthetic bagpipe. His friend Erin had said she would give him a campaign sign, and his main squeeze always gave him cool stuff like the compass she gave him last year. Draco could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a humid day was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his pair of trousers. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the garden. He would have to wear a coonskin hat instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his nose ring.
He pranced downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like Band-Aids. His dad was standing there with a melon baller in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a snigger.
"Hi Daddy!" Draco replied humbly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the hamburgers," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra ramen noodles. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Draco replied dubiously. "Do we have the moo goo gai pan ready?"
"I'm going to wait until eight o'clock to start that," his father replied deftly. "It only has to grill for six minutes."
"Okay," Draco replied gleefully. "I'm gonna go to the lounge."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some fish and chips in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the lounge 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," Draco responded, as he sat down to his fish and chips. "Let's hang lots of sparkly balloons and cover the piano and the hope chest with brilliant orange crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father frantically. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Antonia Bernal. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a pastry blender."
"Really," Draco responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a sneeze. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."