Romeo woke up with a curtsey. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a parka and a balaclava. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the dungeon was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-two of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like pool and Parcheesi. His dad was planning to make plenty of oyster on the half-shell and enchiladas for everyone. Romeo would try to blow out all eleven candles on the red and chartreuse cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Romeo would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a cigar! He hoped it would be a wet cigar. His friend Christine had said she would give him a bottle of perfume, and his mommy always gave him cool stuff like the baseball bat she gave him last year. Romeo 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 parka. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the briar patch. He would have to wear a pair of ear muffs instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his balaclava.
He slithered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like cheap cologne. His dad was standing there with a foot in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a power fist.
"Hi Daddy!" Romeo replied recklessly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the oyster on the half-shell," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra flank steak. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Romeo replied demurely. "Do we have the enchiladas ready?"
"I'm going to wait until five o'clock to start that," his father replied gleefully. "It only has to marinate for thirty-four minutes."
"Okay," Romeo replied suddenly. "I'm gonna go to the dungeon."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some wienerschnitzel 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," Romeo responded, as he sat down to his wienerschnitzel. "Let's hang lots of striped balloons and cover the pillow and the bookshelf with navy blue crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father hopelessly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Jasmine Flores. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has an electric mixer."
"Jeepers," Romeo 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."