Vinny woke up with a glare. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a military uniform and a belt. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the dungeon was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited nine of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend one hour playing fun games like Mother May I and roulette. His dad was planning to make plenty of Hamburger Helper and egg salad sandwich for everyone. Vinny would try to blow out all twelve candles on the sea green and violet cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Vinny would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a teapot! He hoped it would be a gigantic teapot. His friend Tess had said she would give him a magnifying glass, and his sister-in-law always gave him cool stuff like the houseplant she gave him last year. Vinny could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a rainstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his military uniform. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the tundra. He would have to wear a pair of knickers instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his belt.
He galumphed downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like a pot of stew. His dad was standing there with a basting brush in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a honk.
"Hi Daddy!" Vinny replied angrily. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the Hamburger Helper," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra kielbasa. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Vinny replied viciously. "Do we have the egg salad sandwich ready?"
"I'm going to wait until seven o'clock to start that," his father replied sorrowfully. "It only has to simmer for sixty minutes."
"Okay," Vinny replied fiercely. "I'm gonna go to the dungeon."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some lamb curry in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the dungeon 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," Vinny responded, as he sat down to his lamb curry. "Let's hang lots of olive green balloons and cover the computer and the bookshelf with green crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father despondently. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Penny Titus. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a dish cloth."
"Heavens to murgatroyd," Vinny 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."