Phil woke up with a sniffle. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a tool belt and a pocket watch. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the attic was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited two of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend five hours playing fun games like Cootie and volleyball. His dad was planning to make plenty of succotash and biscuits and gravy for everyone. Phil would try to blow out all four candles on the olive green and pea green cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Phil would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a purse! He hoped it would be a brightly-colored purse. His friend Marvella had said she would give him a horseshoe, and his cousin always gave him cool stuff like the pop bottle she gave him last year. Phil could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a pelting rainstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his tool belt. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the landfill. He would have to wear a pair of dentures instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pocket watch.
He capered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like smoke. His dad was standing there with a melon baller in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a growl.
"Hi Daddy!" Phil replied calmly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the succotash," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra curry powder. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Phil replied coldly. "Do we have the biscuits and gravy ready?"
"I'm going to wait until twelve o'clock to start that," his father replied grudgingly. "It only has to broil for twenty-one minutes."
"Okay," Phil replied sympathetically. "I'm gonna go to the attic."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some lime sherbet in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the attic 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," Phil responded, as he sat down to his lime sherbet. "Let's hang lots of brown balloons and cover the carpet and the dresser with salmon crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father unexpectedly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Seema Swaanhof. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a napkin."
"Doggone," Phil responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a jeer. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."