Mason woke up with a shout. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a flour sack and a winter coat. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the foyer was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-three of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend five hours playing fun games like red light green light and shuffleboard. His dad was planning to make plenty of shrimp and chicken chow mein for everyone. Mason would try to blow out all nine candles on the forest green and violet cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Mason would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a cookbook! He hoped it would be an unusual cookbook. His friend Candy had said she would give him a cage, and his mother always gave him cool stuff like the horseshoe she gave him last year. Mason could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a hot day was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his flour sack. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the meadow. He would have to wear a pair of moon boots instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his winter coat.
He skittered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like onions. His dad was standing there with a grater in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a chuckle.
"Hi Daddy!" Mason replied properly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the shrimp," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra vinegar. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Mason replied dreamily. "Do we have the chicken chow mein ready?"
"I'm going to wait until nine o'clock to start that," his father replied temperamentally. "It only has to mix slyly for forty-four minutes."
"Okay," Mason replied languidly. "I'm gonna go to the foyer."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some crab rangoon in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the foyer 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," Mason responded, as he sat down to his crab rangoon. "Let's hang lots of periwinkle balloons and cover the bench and the hatstand with polka dotted crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father bitterly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Hildegarde Singh. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a mixing spoon."
"Dag nabbit," Mason responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a jeer. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."