Quentin woke up with a snuffle. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a tattoo and a set of scrubs. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the workshop was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited fifteen of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend one hour playing fun games like hide and seek and marbles. His mom was planning to make plenty of ceviche and prune pudding for everyone. Quentin would try to blow out all four candles on the magenta and sea green cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Quentin would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain an African violet! He hoped it would be a brittle African violet. His friend Wayne had said he would give him a picture, and his grandfather always gave him cool stuff like the Bible she gave him last year. Quentin could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a rainstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his tattoo. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the neighborhood. He would have to wear a camisole instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his set of scrubs.
He hopped downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like smelling salts. His mom was standing there with an electric mixer in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a sigh.
"Hi Mommy!" Quentin replied firmly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the ceviche," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra chili powder. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Quentin replied kindly. "Do we have the prune pudding ready?"
"I'm going to wait until six o'clock to start that," his mother replied ignobly. "It only has to marinate for twenty-two minutes."
"Okay," Quentin replied suspiciously. "I'm gonna go to the workshop."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some pecan 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 mother replied. "Remember, I'm depending on you to help with the decorating."
"Oh yeah," Quentin responded, as he sat down to his pecan pie. "Let's hang lots of blue balloons and cover the floor and the dresser with tan crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother briskly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Lillian Iliescu. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a meat thermometer."
"Oh my word," Quentin responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a sneeze. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."