Aiden woke up with a power fist. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a parka and a bridal gown. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the auditorium was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-one of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend seven hours playing fun games like Mother May I and jump rope. His dad was planning to make plenty of waffles and crab rangoon for everyone. Aiden would try to blow out all thirty-four candles on the navy blue and golden cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Aiden would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a coupon! He hoped it would be a porcelain coupon. His friend Xaviera had said she would give him a fish, and his mother-in-law always gave him cool stuff like the mop she gave him last year. Aiden could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a hot day was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his parka. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the swamp. He would have to wear a sweatshirt instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his bridal gown.
He sidled downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like rain. His dad was standing there with a napkin in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a shrug.
"Hi Daddy!" Aiden replied nonchalantly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the waffles," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra boneless chicken breast. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Aiden replied bitterly. "Do we have the crab rangoon ready?"
"I'm going to wait until one o'clock to start that," his father replied warily. "It only has to sauté for seventy-six minutes."
"Okay," Aiden replied doubtfully. "I'm gonna go to the auditorium."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some egg drop soup in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the auditorium 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," Aiden responded, as he sat down to his egg drop soup. "Let's hang lots of sea green balloons and cover the pool table and the casket with khaki crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father woodenly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Delores Austin. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a whisk."
"Uh-oh," Aiden 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."