Wallace woke up with a chuckle. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a helmet and a flak jacket. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the atrium was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited nine of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like leapfrog and red light green light. His mom was planning to make plenty of wienerschnitzel and ice cream for everyone. Wallace would try to blow out all ten candles on the brilliant orange and lime-green cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Wallace would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain an African violet! He hoped it would be an immense African violet. His friend Keith had said he would give him a can of sardines, and his grandpa always gave him cool stuff like the fossil she gave him last year. Wallace could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that an ice storm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his helmet. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the mountainside. He would have to wear a bridal gown instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his flak jacket.
He cantered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like black pepper. His mom was standing there with a meat tenderizer in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a simper.
"Hi Mommy!" Wallace replied urgently. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the wienerschnitzel," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra egg noodles. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Wallace replied sleepily. "Do we have the ice cream ready?"
"I'm going to wait until eight o'clock to start that," his mother replied crankily. "It only has to roast for eighty-six minutes."
"Okay," Wallace replied madly. "I'm gonna go to the atrium."
"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 atrium 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," Wallace responded, as he sat down to his pot roast. "Let's hang lots of crimson balloons and cover the cushion and the stool with olive drab crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother angrily. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Elly Nighthawk. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a spatula."
"Great Scott," Wallace responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a shrug. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."