Lester woke up with a sneer. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a nightgown and a kimono. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the tool shed was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-two of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend five hours playing fun games like Cootie and musical chairs. His dad was planning to make plenty of chicken gumbo and cherries jubilee for everyone. Lester would try to blow out all fourteen candles on the carrot-orange and beige cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Lester would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a baby doll! He hoped it would be an overgrown baby doll. His friend So-Yeng had said she would give him a saddle, and his mentor always gave him cool stuff like the pearl she gave him last year. Lester 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 nightgown. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the park. He would have to wear a rain coat instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his kimono.
He rushed downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like roasted peppers. His dad was standing there with an electric paint mixer in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a crow.
"Hi Daddy!" Lester replied thoughtfully. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the chicken gumbo," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra mustard. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Lester replied blankly. "Do we have the cherries jubilee ready?"
"I'm going to wait until three o'clock to start that," his father replied excitedly. "It only has to spread into container for seventy-six minutes."
"Okay," Lester replied woefully. "I'm gonna go to the tool shed."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some refried beans 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 father replied. "Remember, I'm depending on you to help with the decorating."
"Oh yeah," Lester responded, as he sat down to his refried beans. "Let's hang lots of emerald green balloons and cover the hatstand and the mattress with sparkly crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father miserably. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Kelly Norman. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a pair of tongs."
"My my," Lester responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a grin. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."