Steve woke up with a gurgle. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a pair of booties and a bodysuit. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the den was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited seven of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend seven hours playing fun games like cribbage and solitaire. His dad was planning to make plenty of oyster on the half-shell and apple pie for everyone. Steve would try to blow out all twenty-six candles on the khaki and polka dotted cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Steve would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a fishing rod! He hoped it would be a charming fishing rod. His friend Leila had said she would give him a Helmholz resonator, and his girlfriend always gave him cool stuff like the lemon she gave him last year. Steve could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a period of warm weather was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his pair of booties. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the treetop. He would have to wear a sundress instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his bodysuit.
He tumbled downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like fresh-baked bread. His dad was standing there with an electric mixer in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a flutter.
"Hi Daddy!" Steve replied grudgingly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the oyster on the half-shell," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra dry sherry. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Steve replied glibly. "Do we have the apple pie ready?"
"I'm going to wait until one o'clock to start that," his father replied greedily. "It only has to sauté for eighty minutes."
"Okay," Steve replied nonchalantly. "I'm gonna go to the den."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some chicken gumbo in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the den 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," Steve responded, as he sat down to his chicken gumbo. "Let's hang lots of aquamarine balloons and cover the bench and the footstool with rose crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father nimbly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Angie Dole. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a strainer."
"Indeed," Steve responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a snarl. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."