White Cloud woke up with a laugh. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a tam o'shanter and a cummerbund. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the workshop was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited thirteen of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend one hour playing fun games like golf and tag. His dad was planning to make plenty of cookies and squash blossom soup for everyone. White Cloud would try to blow out all eleven candles on the golden and chocolate brown cake. While the guests were eating their cake, White Cloud would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a toolbox! He hoped it would be a heavy toolbox. His friend Bonnie had said she would give him a Kindle, and his sister always gave him cool stuff like the daisy she gave him last year. White Cloud could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a thunderstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his tam o'shanter. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the landfill. He would have to wear a pair of UGGs instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his cummerbund.
He flew downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like a barn. His dad was standing there with an ice pick in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a crow.
"Hi Daddy!" White Cloud replied calmly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the cookies," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra half and half. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," White Cloud replied gruffly. "Do we have the squash blossom soup ready?"
"I'm going to wait until nine o'clock to start that," his father replied blissfully. "It only has to heat for twenty-four minutes."
"Okay," White Cloud replied viciously. "I'm gonna go to the workshop."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some smoked salmon in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the workshop 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," White Cloud responded, as he sat down to his smoked salmon. "Let's hang lots of sea green balloons and cover the piano and the hope chest with burgundy crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father frenetically. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Loretta Baggins. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a pair of chopsticks."
"Fine," White Cloud responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a snicker. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."