Jesse woke up with a yawn. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a wig and a beard. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the billiard room was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited seven of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend five hours playing fun games like blackjack and Candy Land. His dad was planning to make plenty of bread and butter and cornbread for everyone. Jesse would try to blow out all five candles on the metallic red and violet cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Jesse would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain an air compressor! He hoped it would be a multicolored air compressor. His friend Bretta had said she would give him a campaign sign, and his girlfriend always gave him cool stuff like the box of Kleenex she gave him last year. Jesse could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a rainbow was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his wig. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the lakeside. He would have to wear a pair of glasses instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his beard.
He slunk downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like a wet dog. His dad was standing there with a turkey baster in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a gurgle.
"Hi Daddy!" Jesse replied anxiously. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the bread and butter," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra pistachios. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Jesse replied awkwardly. "Do we have the cornbread ready?"
"I'm going to wait until ten o'clock to start that," his father replied ruefully. "It only has to age for eighty-seven minutes."
"Okay," Jesse replied positively. "I'm gonna go to the billiard room."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some cotton candy in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the billiard room 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," Jesse responded, as he sat down to his cotton candy. "Let's hang lots of tan balloons and cover the canopy bed and the ottoman with khaki crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father curiously. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Erin Clooney. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a whisk."
"Meow," Jesse responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with an air kiss. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."