Harold woke up with a shrug. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a blanket and a cat suit. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the auditorium was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-one of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend two hours playing fun games like old maid and tag. His dad was planning to make plenty of applesauce and brownies for everyone. Harold would try to blow out all five candles on the lavender and mauve cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Harold would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a painting! He hoped it would be a jagged painting. His friend Cassie had said she would give him an accordion, and his sister always gave him cool stuff like the pair of knitting needles she gave him last year. Harold could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a sleet storm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his blanket. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the grassy knoll. He would have to wear a dunce cap instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his cat suit.
He stormed downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like pepper. His dad was standing there with a foot in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a face palm.
"Hi Daddy!" Harold replied angrily. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the applesauce," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra Dijon mustard. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Harold replied sternly. "Do we have the brownies ready?"
"I'm going to wait until seven o'clock to start that," his father replied cheerfully. "It only has to deep fry for sixty-nine minutes."
"Okay," Harold replied swiftly. "I'm gonna go to the auditorium."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some squash blossom soup in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the auditorium 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," Harold responded, as he sat down to his squash blossom soup. "Let's hang lots of maroon balloons and cover the billiard table and the bench with forest green crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father surreptitiously. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Chelsea Henry. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a slotted spoon."
"I think not," Harold responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a coo. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."