Upton woke up with a clenched fist. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a Superman costume and a balaclava. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the tool shed was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-three of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend seven hours playing fun games like ring around the rosie and badminton. His mom was planning to make plenty of fish and chips and sushi for everyone. Upton would try to blow out all seven candles on the pink and navy blue cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Upton would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a model airplane! He hoped it would be a striped model airplane. His friend Luke had said he would give him a toolbox, and his sister-in-law always gave him cool stuff like the bag of ice she gave him last year. Upton could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a hurricane was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his Superman costume. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the forest. He would have to wear a rain coat instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his balaclava.
He galloped downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like a spring rain. His mom was standing there with a dish cloth in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a hiccup.
"Hi Mommy!" Upton replied hopelessly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the fish and chips," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra garlic. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Upton replied ruefully. "Do we have the sushi ready?"
"I'm going to wait until eleven o'clock to start that," his mother replied suavely. "It only has to braise for forty-eight minutes."
"Okay," Upton replied strictly. "I'm gonna go to the tool shed."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some cabbage rolls in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the tool shed 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," Upton responded, as he sat down to his cabbage rolls. "Let's hang lots of green balloons and cover the computer and the ottoman with grey crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother gingerly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Sissy Feldman. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has an electric mixer."
"Malarkey," Upton responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a growl. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."