Shawn woke up with a pout. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a pair of combat boots and a fur coat. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the study was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-two of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend three hours playing fun games like hide and seek and Snakes and Ladders. His dad was planning to make plenty of French fries and prime rib for everyone. Shawn would try to blow out all three candles on the terra cotta and silver cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Shawn would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a cupcake! He hoped it would be a mysterious cupcake. His friend Delores had said she would give him a cigar, and his mentor always gave him cool stuff like the football she gave him last year. Shawn could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a windstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his pair of combat boots. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the neighborhood. He would have to wear a pair of roller skates instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his fur coat.
He breezed downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like orange peel. His dad was standing there with a fork in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a clenched fist.
"Hi Daddy!" Shawn replied positively. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the French fries," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra almond paste. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Shawn replied pitifully. "Do we have the prime rib ready?"
"I'm going to wait until five o'clock to start that," his father replied dreamily. "It only has to arrange for ten minutes."
"Okay," Shawn replied blankly. "I'm gonna go to the study."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some Froot Loops in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the study 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," Shawn responded, as he sat down to his Froot Loops. "Let's hang lots of sea green balloons and cover the sofa and the workbench with sea green crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father lightly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Carey Dion. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a melon baller."
"Aaaw," Shawn responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a raspberry. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."