Reginald woke up with a blush. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a bib and a pair of earrings. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the tool shed was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited six of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend four hours playing fun games like tennis and jacks. His mom was planning to make plenty of macaroni and cheese and chocolate-covered ants for everyone. Reginald would try to blow out all twelve candles on the terra cotta and crimson cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Reginald would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a pearl! He hoped it would be a nifty pearl. His friend Lorenzo had said he would give him a peanut, and his wife always gave him cool stuff like the urn she gave him last year. Reginald 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 bib. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the ridge. He would have to wear a pair of knickerbockers instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pair of earrings.
He sallied forth downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like a chocolate factory. His mom was standing there with an electric mixer in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a glare.
"Hi Mommy!" Reginald replied wryly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the macaroni and cheese," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra trout. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Reginald replied violently. "Do we have the chocolate-covered ants ready?"
"I'm going to wait until three o'clock to start that," his mother replied sagely. "It only has to shake for seventy-seven minutes."
"Okay," Reginald replied warily. "I'm gonna go to the tool shed."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some bread and butter in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the tool shed first?" he begged.
"It looks just like it always does," his mother replied. "Remember, I'm depending on you to help with the decorating."
"Oh yeah," Reginald responded, as he sat down to his bread and butter. "Let's hang lots of indigo balloons and cover the futon and the settee with purple crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother glibly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Darcy Conrad. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a slotted spoon."
"You're kidding," Reginald responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a caress. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."