Donald woke up with a cringe. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a pair of ear muffs and a pocket watch. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the ballroom was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited one of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend seven hours playing fun games like marbles and Clue. His dad was planning to make plenty of mushroom quiche and enchiladas for everyone. Donald would try to blow out all fourteen candles on the purple and aquamarine cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Donald would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a pail! He hoped it would be a jagged pail. His friend Olivia had said she would give him a roll of toilet paper, and his aunt always gave him cool stuff like the oriental vase she gave him last year. Donald could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a lightning storm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his pair of ear muffs. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the treetop. He would have to wear a toga instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pocket watch.
He scurried downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like fish. His dad was standing there with a piece of cheesecloth in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a cringe.
"Hi Daddy!" Donald replied later. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the mushroom quiche," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra calamari. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Donald replied busily. "Do we have the enchiladas ready?"
"I'm going to wait until eleven o'clock to start that," his father replied later. "It only has to simmer for eighty-one minutes."
"Okay," Donald replied viciously. "I'm gonna go to the ballroom."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some potatoes and gravy in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the ballroom 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," Donald responded, as he sat down to his potatoes and gravy. "Let's hang lots of peach balloons and cover the bookshelf and the safe with violet crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father narrowly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Beverly Richter. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a potato peeler."
"Brrr," Donald responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a shiver. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."