Montague woke up with a hoot. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a hair net and a bow tie. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the servant's quarters was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited two of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like battleship and roulette. His dad was planning to make plenty of cabbage and hash for everyone. Montague would try to blow out all twenty-eight candles on the hot pink and brilliant orange cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Montague would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a sea shell! He hoped it would be a crusty sea shell. His friend Francie had said she would give him a chain, and his wife always gave him cool stuff like the billfold she gave him last year. Montague could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a flood was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his hair net. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the garden. He would have to wear a military uniform instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his bow tie.
He strode downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like potpourri. His dad was standing there with an oven mitt in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a wince.
"Hi Daddy!" Montague replied softly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the cabbage," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra tequila. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Montague replied frantically. "Do we have the hash ready?"
"I'm going to wait until ten o'clock to start that," his father replied silently. "It only has to marinate for eighty-nine minutes."
"Okay," Montague replied ruefully. "I'm gonna go to the servant's quarters."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some tacos 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 father replied. "Remember, I'm depending on you to help with the decorating."
"Oh yeah," Montague responded, as he sat down to his tacos. "Let's hang lots of aquamarine balloons and cover the china cabinet and the safe with periwinkle crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father steadily. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Marilyn Pierce. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a dull knife."
"Doggone," Montague responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a smirk. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."