Jake woke up with a kiss. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a pair of UGGs and a pair of dungarees. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the pool room was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-two of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend two hours playing fun games like baseball and follow the leader. His dad was planning to make plenty of omelet and sweet potatoes for everyone. Jake would try to blow out all seventeen candles on the purple and burgundy cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Jake would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a jar of olives! He hoped it would be a puzzling jar of olives. His friend Gilda had said she would give him a blank check, and his mom always gave him cool stuff like the Happy Meal she gave him last year. Jake could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a sandstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his pair of UGGs. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the hill. He would have to wear a pair of khakis instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pair of dungarees.
He tumbled downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like cigars. His dad was standing there with a meat thermometer in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with an air kiss.
"Hi Daddy!" Jake replied merrily. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the omelet," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra chicken broth. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Jake replied daringly. "Do we have the sweet potatoes ready?"
"I'm going to wait until four o'clock to start that," his father replied slowly. "It only has to allow to rise in warm place for several hours for eighty-one minutes."
"Okay," Jake replied fearfully. "I'm gonna go to the pool room."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some blueberry pie 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 father replied. "Remember, I'm depending on you to help with the decorating."
"Oh yeah," Jake responded, as he sat down to his blueberry pie. "Let's hang lots of magenta balloons and cover the umbrella stand and the rug with jet black crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father impatiently. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Julieann Bromley. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a garlic press."
"Crikey," Jake responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a wrinkled nose. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."