Papa woke up with a giggle. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a class ring and a bustier. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the corridor was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited sixteen of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend one hour playing fun games like musical chairs and musical chairs. His dad was planning to make plenty of fish and chips and falafel for everyone. Papa would try to blow out all nine candles on the aquamarine and silver cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Papa would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a rag! He hoped it would be an important rag. His friend Kim had said she would give him a cracker, and his mentor always gave him cool stuff like the clarinet she gave him last year. Papa could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a hailstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his class ring. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the peninsula. He would have to wear a pair of khakis instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his bustier.
He slipped downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like vinegar. His dad was standing there with an oven mitt in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a power fist.
"Hi Daddy!" Papa replied furiously. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the fish and chips," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra wasabi powder. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Papa replied intensely. "Do we have the falafel ready?"
"I'm going to wait until twelve o'clock to start that," his father replied hysterically. "It only has to roast for seventy-one minutes."
"Okay," Papa replied frenetically. "I'm gonna go to the corridor."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some hot dogs 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," Papa responded, as he sat down to his hot dogs. "Let's hang lots of tan balloons and cover the dresser and the water bed with jade crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father majestically. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Julia Mondegreen. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a dish cloth."
"Please," Papa responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a shiver. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."