Adam 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 sweater and an apron. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the library was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited four of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend one hour playing fun games like crazy eights and rummy. His mom was planning to make plenty of Hamburger Helper and crumb cake for everyone. Adam would try to blow out all sixteen candles on the polka dotted and burgundy cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Adam would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a bell! He hoped it would be a cotton bell. His friend Bradley had said he would give him a stick, and his main squeeze always gave him cool stuff like the rope she gave him last year. Adam could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a bit of precipitation was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his sweater. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the countryside. He would have to wear a nose ring instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his apron.
He sidled downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like baked beans. His mom was standing there with a pair of tongs in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a wrinkled nose.
"Hi Mommy!" Adam replied crankily. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the Hamburger Helper," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra onion powder. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Adam replied later. "Do we have the crumb cake ready?"
"I'm going to wait until two o'clock to start that," his mother replied valiantly. "It only has to place on serving dish for seventy-three minutes."
"Okay," Adam replied oddly. "I'm gonna go to the library."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some Froot Loops in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the library first?" he begged.
"It looks just like it always does," his mother replied. "Remember, I'm depending on you to help with the decorating."
"Oh yeah," Adam responded, as he sat down to his Froot Loops. "Let's hang lots of golden balloons and cover the nightstand and the washstand with camouflage crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother victoriously. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Marcie Arnold. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a candy thermometer."
"What the devil," Adam responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a sneeze. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."