Bert woke up with an air kiss. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a polo shirt and a pair of cargo pants. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the dungeon was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited fourteen of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend five hours playing fun games like Russian roulette and croquet. His dad was planning to make plenty of chicken chow mein and pumpkin pie for everyone. Bert would try to blow out all eighteen candles on the maroon and peach cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Bert would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a blanket! He hoped it would be a hideous blanket. His friend Shawna had said she would give him a sack, and his mother always gave him cool stuff like the tube of glue she gave him last year. Bert could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a downpour was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his polo shirt. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the pasture. He would have to wear a big smile instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pair of cargo pants.
He danced downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like garlic. His dad was standing there with a dull knife in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a death glare.
"Hi Daddy!" Bert replied blissfully. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the chicken chow mein," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra powdered sugar. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Bert replied zestily. "Do we have the pumpkin pie ready?"
"I'm going to wait until six o'clock to start that," his father replied carefully. "It only has to place on serving dish for seventeen minutes."
"Okay," Bert replied unnaturally. "I'm gonna go to the dungeon."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some lamb curry 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," Bert responded, as he sat down to his lamb curry. "Let's hang lots of teal balloons and cover the cushion and the footstool with hot pink crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father intensely. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Lillian Eriksson. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a garlic press."
"Hello," Bert responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with an evil eye. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."