Brad woke up with a snort. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a false moustache and a cocktail dress. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the den was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-four of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend one hour playing fun games like backgammon and dodge ball. His mom was planning to make plenty of hamburgers and shrimp for everyone. Brad would try to blow out all twenty-six candles on the amber and turquoise cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Brad would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a Big Gulp! He hoped it would be a heavy Big Gulp. His friend Jim had said he would give him a compass, and his cousin always gave him cool stuff like the twig she gave him last year. Brad 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 false moustache. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the pasture. He would have to wear a tank top instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his cocktail dress.
He slunk downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like Revlon. His mom was standing there with a spoon in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a death glare.
"Hi Mommy!" Brad replied quietly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the hamburgers," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra avocado. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Brad replied sarcastically. "Do we have the shrimp ready?"
"I'm going to wait until twelve o'clock to start that," his mother replied lovingly. "It only has to allow to rise in warm place for several hours for eighty minutes."
"Okay," Brad replied majestically. "I'm gonna go to the den."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some fried eggs in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the den 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," Brad responded, as he sat down to his fried eggs. "Let's hang lots of rose balloons and cover the nightstand and the recliner with azure crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother suddenly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Evelyn Finley. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a mixing spoon."
"Blah," Brad responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a snuffle. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."