Knuckles woke up with a flinch. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a beard and a pair of knickerbockers. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the conservatory was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited three of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend six hours playing fun games like seven-up and dominos. His mom was planning to make plenty of oyster on the half-shell and fish and chips for everyone. Knuckles would try to blow out all twenty-eight candles on the purple and brown cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Knuckles would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a Kindle! He hoped it would be an unusual Kindle. His friend Isaac had said he would give him a wrench, and his aunt always gave him cool stuff like the clarinet she gave him last year. Knuckles 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 beard. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the cornfield. He would have to wear a big grin instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pair of knickerbockers.
He sauntered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like orange blossoms. His mom was standing there with a strainer in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a dope slap.
"Hi Mommy!" Knuckles replied carelessly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the oyster on the half-shell," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra potato flakes. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Knuckles replied crankily. "Do we have the fish and chips ready?"
"I'm going to wait until two o'clock to start that," his mother replied gratefully. "It only has to steam for fifteen minutes."
"Okay," Knuckles replied quietly. "I'm gonna go to the conservatory."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some prune pudding in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the conservatory 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," Knuckles responded, as he sat down to his prune pudding. "Let's hang lots of jade balloons and cover the file cabinet and the stool with magenta crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother suavely. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Teresa Mason. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has an ice pick."
"Oof," Knuckles responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a titter. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."