Dirk woke up with a stiff upper lip. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a pacifier and a pair of Bermuda shorts. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the study was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-one of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend one hour playing fun games like hearts and Rummy. His dad was planning to make plenty of roast beef and cabbage rolls for everyone. Dirk would try to blow out all six candles on the chocolate brown and pink cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Dirk would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a hat! He hoped it would be a sleek hat. His friend Iggy had said she would give him a suitcase, and his mother always gave him cool stuff like the teapot she gave him last year. Dirk 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 pacifier. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the butte. He would have to wear a blouse instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pair of Bermuda shorts.
He waltzed downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like Old Spice. His dad was standing there with a bare foot in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a frown.
"Hi Daddy!" Dirk replied perkily. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the roast beef," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra Brussels sprouts. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Dirk replied dubiously. "Do we have the cabbage rolls ready?"
"I'm going to wait until three o'clock to start that," his father replied ingeniously. "It only has to grill for sixty-four minutes."
"Okay," Dirk replied crossly. "I'm gonna go to the study."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some cinnamon toast in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the study 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," Dirk responded, as he sat down to his cinnamon toast. "Let's hang lots of aqua balloons and cover the TV and the pedestal with rose crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father carelessly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Michaela Kafka. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a mixing spoon."
"Not on your life," Dirk responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a grimace. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."