Siggy woke up with a woof. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a poodle skirt and a smartwatch. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the lounge was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited eighteen of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like poker and hearts. His dad was planning to make plenty of pecan pie and borscht for everyone. Siggy would try to blow out all eighteen candles on the olive green and jet black cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Siggy would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a spinning wheel! He hoped it would be a bizarre spinning wheel. His friend Kathryn had said she would give him a fishhook, and his friend always gave him cool stuff like the stone she gave him last year. Siggy could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a pelting rainstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his poodle skirt. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the butte. He would have to wear a military uniform instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his smartwatch.
He capered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like peppermint. His dad was standing there with a whisk in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a tear.
"Hi Daddy!" Siggy replied patiently. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the pecan pie," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra Dijon mustard. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Siggy replied despondently. "Do we have the borscht ready?"
"I'm going to wait until four o'clock to start that," his father replied fearfully. "It only has to sear for twenty-four minutes."
"Okay," Siggy replied deftly. "I'm gonna go to the lounge."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some beef bouillon 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," Siggy responded, as he sat down to his beef bouillon. "Let's hang lots of white balloons and cover the bar stool and the coffee table with hot pink crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father arrogantly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Elinor Gardner. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a potato masher."
"Far out, man," Siggy responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a sniffle. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."