Nathan woke up with a raised eyebrow. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a Panama hat and an apron. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the atrium was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited eight of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like charades and croquet. His dad was planning to make plenty of cabbage and mushroom quiche for everyone. Nathan would try to blow out all twelve candles on the brilliant orange and olive green cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Nathan would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a coat check ticket! He hoped it would be a synthetic coat check ticket. His friend Gloria had said she would give him a pencil, and his aunt always gave him cool stuff like the screwdriver she gave him last year. Nathan could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a drizzle was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his Panama hat. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the plateau. He would have to wear a gunny sack instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his apron.
He capered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like baby powder. His dad was standing there with a cookie cutter in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a face palm.
"Hi Daddy!" Nathan replied impatiently. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the cabbage," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra mustard seed. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Nathan replied repeatedly. "Do we have the mushroom quiche ready?"
"I'm going to wait until twelve o'clock to start that," his father replied uselessly. "It only has to age for sixteen minutes."
"Okay," Nathan replied temperamentally. "I'm gonna go to the atrium."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some hors d'oeuvre in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the atrium 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," Nathan responded, as he sat down to his hors d'oeuvre. "Let's hang lots of orange balloons and cover the cupboard and the bench with hot pink crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father fearfully. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Paula Cutler. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has an ice pick."
"Tarnation," Nathan responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a face palm. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."