Wilson woke up with a flutter. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a pair of jackboots and a T-shirt. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the servant's quarters was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-one of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend six hours playing fun games like Rummy and blackjack. His mom was planning to make plenty of Froot Loops and chicken pot pie for everyone. Wilson would try to blow out all thirty-four candles on the teal and burgundy cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Wilson would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a clock! He hoped it would be a striped clock. His friend Mahatma had said he would give him a battery, and his sister-in-law always gave him cool stuff like the flashlight she gave him last year. Wilson could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a hailstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his pair of jackboots. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the field. He would have to wear a pair of flip-flops instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his T-shirt.
He sauntered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like curry. His mom was standing there with a meat thermometer in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a smack.
"Hi Mommy!" Wilson replied vigorously. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the Froot Loops," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra poppy seeds. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Wilson replied later. "Do we have the chicken pot pie ready?"
"I'm going to wait until five o'clock to start that," his mother replied numbly. "It only has to bake at 450 degrees F for seventy-one minutes."
"Okay," Wilson replied deliberately. "I'm gonna go to the servant's quarters."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some pot roast in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the servant's quarters 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," Wilson responded, as he sat down to his pot roast. "Let's hang lots of jet black balloons and cover the buffet and the computer with scarlet crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother cunningly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Chris Bobbit. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a cookie cutter."
"Bless my britches," Wilson responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a guffaw. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."