Luis woke up with a jeer. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a cowboy hat and a pair of booties. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the corridor was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited three of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend two hours playing fun games like trivia and ring around the rosie. His dad was planning to make plenty of oyster on the half-shell and banana split for everyone. Luis would try to blow out all three candles on the grey and peach cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Luis would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain an abacus! He hoped it would be a used abacus. His friend Wanda had said she would give him an urn, and his girlfriend always gave him cool stuff like the bullet she gave him last year. Luis could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that an ice storm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his cowboy hat. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the park. He would have to wear a badge instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pair of booties.
He trekked downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like strawberries. His dad was standing there with an ice pick in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a sniffle.
"Hi Daddy!" Luis replied thoughtfully. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the oyster on the half-shell," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra fresh papaya. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Luis replied defiantly. "Do we have the banana split ready?"
"I'm going to wait until one o'clock to start that," his father replied uselessly. "It only has to whirl for four minutes."
"Okay," Luis replied stupidly. "I'm gonna go to the corridor."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some beans in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the corridor 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," Luis responded, as he sat down to his beans. "Let's hang lots of teal balloons and cover the chest of drawers and the hatstand with aqua crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father gently. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Paige Irons. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a strainer."
"I've had it," Luis 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."