Dakota 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 coat and a robe. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the auditorium was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twelve of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like red light green light and Simon Says. His dad was planning to make plenty of burritos and biscuits and gravy for everyone. Dakota would try to blow out all twenty-one candles on the pink and camouflage cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Dakota would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a map! He hoped it would be a jagged map. His friend Hephzibah had said she would give him a coat check ticket, and his grandmother always gave him cool stuff like the pizza she gave him last year. Dakota 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 coat. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the gulch. He would have to wear a diaper instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his robe.
He scampered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like a candle shop. His dad was standing there with a ladle in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a dope slap.
"Hi Daddy!" Dakota replied sweetly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the burritos," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra pork chops. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Dakota replied obediently. "Do we have the biscuits and gravy ready?"
"I'm going to wait until nine o'clock to start that," his father replied dreamily. "It only has to press for three minutes."
"Okay," Dakota replied shyly. "I'm gonna go to the auditorium."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some bonbons in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the auditorium 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," Dakota responded, as he sat down to his bonbons. "Let's hang lots of yellow balloons and cover the casket and the water bed with brown crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father unnaturally. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Callie Schecter. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a piece of cheesecloth."
"Kazow," Dakota responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a flush. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."