Gavin woke up with a growl. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a sundress and a dress. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the dungeon was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-one of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like doctor and ring around the rosie. His dad was planning to make plenty of sweet potatoes and French fries for everyone. Gavin would try to blow out all thirty-two candles on the teal and purple cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Gavin would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a soccer ball! He hoped it would be an expensive soccer ball. His friend Lizzie had said she would give him a barbell, and his friend always gave him cool stuff like the sponge she gave him last year. Gavin 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 sundress. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the garden. He would have to wear an evening gown instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his dress.
He swung downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like gardenias. His dad was standing there with a mixing spoon in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a flinch.
"Hi Daddy!" Gavin replied uselessly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the sweet potatoes," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra spaghetti noodles. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Gavin replied energetically. "Do we have the French fries ready?"
"I'm going to wait until five o'clock to start that," his father replied unnaturally. "It only has to fry for seventeen minutes."
"Okay," Gavin replied gruffly. "I'm gonna go to the dungeon."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some pie a la mode 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," Gavin responded, as he sat down to his pie a la mode. "Let's hang lots of purple balloons and cover the file cabinet and the end table with silver crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father arrogantly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Agnes Spence. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a spoon."
"Golly," Gavin responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a face palm. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."