Roy woke up with a backward glance. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a surgical mask and an Eton jacket. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the game room was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-five of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend seven hours playing fun games like Monopoly and volleyball. His dad was planning to make plenty of wienerschnitzel and fondue for everyone. Roy would try to blow out all two candles on the blue and amber cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Roy would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a smart phone! He hoped it would be an important smart phone. His friend Loretta had said she would give him a shoe, and his grandmother always gave him cool stuff like the balloon she gave him last year. Roy could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a hot day was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his surgical mask. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the stream. He would have to wear a maxi skirt instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his Eton jacket.
He scurried downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like nachos. His dad was standing there with a spatula in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a sniffle.
"Hi Daddy!" Roy replied resignedly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the wienerschnitzel," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra mint leaves. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Roy replied majestically. "Do we have the fondue ready?"
"I'm going to wait until eight o'clock to start that," his father replied fearlessly. "It only has to heat for fifty-seven minutes."
"Okay," Roy replied solemnly. "I'm gonna go to the game room."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some burritos in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the game room 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," Roy responded, as he sat down to his burritos. "Let's hang lots of purple balloons and cover the toilet and the fainting couch with grey crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father tenderly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Natalie Bower. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a cookie cutter."
"I'm stoked," Roy responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a dope slap. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."