Desmond woke up with a snuffle. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a pair of boxer shorts and a camisole. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the patio was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited thirteen of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend two hours playing fun games like follow the leader and seven-up. His dad was planning to make plenty of brownies and tuna casserole for everyone. Desmond would try to blow out all thirty-one candles on the indigo and sparkly cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Desmond would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a box! He hoped it would be a soft box. His friend Veronica had said she would give him an etching, and his grandmother always gave him cool stuff like the pain pill she gave him last year. Desmond could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a flood was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his pair of boxer shorts. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the country meadow. He would have to wear a feather boa instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his camisole.
He galumphed downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like flatulence. His dad was standing there with a strainer in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a flutter.
"Hi Daddy!" Desmond replied confidently. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the brownies," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra pomegranate juice. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Desmond replied urgently. "Do we have the tuna casserole ready?"
"I'm going to wait until ten o'clock to start that," his father replied crazily. "It only has to heat for forty-nine minutes."
"Okay," Desmond replied valiantly. "I'm gonna go to the patio."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some wienerschnitzel in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the patio 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," Desmond responded, as he sat down to his wienerschnitzel. "Let's hang lots of brilliant orange balloons and cover the water bed and the counter with silver crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father elatedly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Abigail Schlick. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a fork."
"Cripes," Desmond responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a sneer. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."