Rock woke up with a hiccup. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a sarong and a pair of Bermuda shorts. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the workshop was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited ten of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend one hour playing fun games like hopscotch and Scrabble. His dad was planning to make plenty of mashed potatoes and scrambled eggs for everyone. Rock would try to blow out all two candles on the red and indigo cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Rock would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a purse! He hoped it would be a peculiar purse. His friend Zoe had said she would give him a thumb drive, and his dad always gave him cool stuff like the baby doll she gave him last year. Rock could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that an ice storm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his sarong. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the creek. He would have to wear a pair of knickerbockers instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pair of Bermuda shorts.
He paraded downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like chocolate. His dad was standing there with a meat tenderizer in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a grin.
"Hi Daddy!" Rock replied timidly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the mashed potatoes," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra fresh parsley. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Rock replied haughtily. "Do we have the scrambled eggs ready?"
"I'm going to wait until nine o'clock to start that," his father replied charmingly. "It only has to heat in microwave for seventy-six minutes."
"Okay," Rock replied tensely. "I'm gonna go to the workshop."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some pumpkin pie in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the workshop 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," Rock responded, as he sat down to his pumpkin pie. "Let's hang lots of green balloons and cover the catbird seat and the wooden crate with hot pink crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father tensely. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Elena Bogart. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a garlic press."
"Shame," Rock responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a giggle. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."