Calvin woke up with a belch. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a bolo tie and an Eton jacket. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the atrium was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited thirty of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend two hours playing fun games like duck duck goose and bridge. His mom was planning to make plenty of falafel and cornbread for everyone. Calvin would try to blow out all five candles on the pink and polka dotted cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Calvin would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a hand puppet! He hoped it would be a crisp hand puppet. His friend Wendell had said he would give him a clock, and his mommy always gave him cool stuff like the cowbell she gave him last year. Calvin could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a sleet storm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his bolo tie. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the jungle. He would have to wear a swimsuit instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his Eton jacket.
He flounced downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like road kill. His mom was standing there with a foot in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a backward glance.
"Hi Mommy!" Calvin replied grandly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the falafel," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra habañero peppers. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Calvin replied fearlessly. "Do we have the cornbread ready?"
"I'm going to wait until twelve o'clock to start that," his mother replied confidently. "It only has to spoon into container for sixty-two minutes."
"Okay," Calvin replied cheerfully. "I'm gonna go to the atrium."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some candy in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the atrium 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," Calvin responded, as he sat down to his candy. "Let's hang lots of brilliant orange balloons and cover the pool table and the pillow with periwinkle crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother fiercely. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Robin McGill. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a foot."
"Maybe," Calvin responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a snicker. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."