Simeon woke up with a blush. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a polo shirt and a black armband. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the parlor was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited ten of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend five hours playing fun games like baseball and blackjack. His dad was planning to make plenty of sushi and succotash for everyone. Simeon would try to blow out all thirty-five candles on the forest green and indigo cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Simeon would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a bottle of perfume! He hoped it would be a handy bottle of perfume. His friend Carmen had said she would give him an avocado, and his mother always gave him cool stuff like the coloring book she gave him last year. Simeon could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a blanket of mist was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his polo shirt. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the outback. He would have to wear a dirndl instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his black armband.
He proceeded downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like something died. His dad was standing there with a knife in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a belch.
"Hi Daddy!" Simeon replied woefully. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the sushi," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra red cabbage. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Simeon replied solemnly. "Do we have the succotash ready?"
"I'm going to wait until four o'clock to start that," his father replied grandly. "It only has to simmer for twenty minutes."
"Okay," Simeon replied bravely. "I'm gonna go to the parlor."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some fish and chips in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the parlor 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," Simeon responded, as he sat down to his fish and chips. "Let's hang lots of terra cotta balloons and cover the billiard table and the safe with khaki crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father gracefully. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Sydney Hoffa. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a spatula."
"Thunderation," Simeon responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a sneer. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."