Dakota woke up with a snicker. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a big red rose and a belly button jewel. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the foyer was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-one of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend five hours playing fun games like volleyball and chess. His dad was planning to make plenty of mulligan stew and ramen noodles for everyone. Dakota would try to blow out all thirty-three candles on the crimson and maroon cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Dakota would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a microphone! He hoped it would be a woven microphone. His friend Audrey had said she would give him a fire hose, and his sister-in-law always gave him cool stuff like the purse she gave him last year. Dakota could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a lightning storm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his big red rose. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the savanna. He would have to wear a scarf instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his belly button jewel.
He waded downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like bubble gum. His dad was standing there with a pastry blender in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a belly laugh.
"Hi Daddy!" Dakota replied gratefully. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the mulligan stew," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra canned pineapple. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Dakota replied grimly. "Do we have the ramen noodles ready?"
"I'm going to wait until one o'clock to start that," his father replied wildly. "It only has to roast for seventy-five minutes."
"Okay," Dakota replied obediently. "I'm gonna go to the foyer."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some succotash in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the foyer 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," Dakota responded, as he sat down to his succotash. "Let's hang lots of black balloons and cover the cupboard and the bar stool with metallic red crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father bravely. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Edna Morgan. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a piece of cheesecloth."
"Phew," Dakota responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a snicker. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."