Wendell woke up with a cackle. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a tattoo and a bomber jacket. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the kitchen was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-nine of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like chess and Parcheesi. His dad was planning to make plenty of cookies and applesauce for everyone. Wendell would try to blow out all two candles on the scarlet and green cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Wendell would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a garbage can! He hoped it would be a plastic garbage can. His friend Wesley had said she would give him a hip flask, and his aunt always gave him cool stuff like the fishhook she gave him last year. Wendell could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a period of warm weather was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his tattoo. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the trail. He would have to wear a dog collar instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his bomber jacket.
He straggled downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like sage. His dad was standing there with a fork in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a simper.
"Hi Daddy!" Wendell replied suddenly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the cookies," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra water. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Wendell replied intensely. "Do we have the applesauce ready?"
"I'm going to wait until seven o'clock to start that," his father replied sweetly. "It only has to roast for twelve minutes."
"Okay," Wendell replied unexpectedly. "I'm gonna go to the kitchen."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some country glazed ham in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the kitchen 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," Wendell responded, as he sat down to his country glazed ham. "Let's hang lots of mauve balloons and cover the bathtub and the crib with yellow crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father blankly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Gail Kinstler. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a grater."
"Scurvy dog," Wendell responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a honk. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."