Carlton woke up with a tear. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a bomber jacket and a jogging suit. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the family room was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-nine of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend three hours playing fun games like Simon Says and cribbage. His dad was planning to make plenty of mashed potatoes and potatoes and gravy for everyone. Carlton would try to blow out all seven candles on the hot pink and silver cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Carlton would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a necklace! He hoped it would be a tiny necklace. His friend Meghan had said she would give him a hat, and his mother always gave him cool stuff like the gun she gave him last year. Carlton could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a drizzle was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his bomber jacket. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the path. He would have to wear a scarf instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his jogging suit.
He jumped downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like gasoline. His dad was standing there with a cheesecloth in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a sniff.
"Hi Daddy!" Carlton replied viciously. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the mashed potatoes," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra salsa. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Carlton replied cheerfully. "Do we have the potatoes and gravy ready?"
"I'm going to wait until eight o'clock to start that," his father replied later. "It only has to heat for eighty-three minutes."
"Okay," Carlton replied boldly. "I'm gonna go to the family room."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some mushroom quiche in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the family room 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," Carlton responded, as he sat down to his mushroom quiche. "Let's hang lots of aquamarine balloons and cover the dining table and the armoire with khaki crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father caustically. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Hattie Diamond. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a Sham-Wow!."
"Pish posh," Carlton responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a snigger. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."