Cameron woke up with a sigh. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a blanket and a baseball cap. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the patio was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited thirteen of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend seven hours playing fun games like Snakes and Ladders and Russian roulette. His dad was planning to make plenty of fried chicken and doughnuts for everyone. Cameron would try to blow out all twenty-seven candles on the jade and brown cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Cameron would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a pillow! He hoped it would be a worn pillow. His friend Ashley had said she would give him a bottle of perfume, and his girlfriend always gave him cool stuff like the tote bag she gave him last year. Cameron could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a hurricane 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 stream. He would have to wear a pair of culottes instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his baseball cap.
He slithered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like a candle shop. His dad was standing there with a dish cloth in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a flush.
"Hi Daddy!" Cameron replied sourly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the fried chicken," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra rice noodles. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Cameron replied sheepishly. "Do we have the doughnuts ready?"
"I'm going to wait until three o'clock to start that," his father replied nervously. "It only has to toast for eighty-seven minutes."
"Okay," Cameron replied unnaturally. "I'm gonna go to the patio."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some chicken pot pie in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the patio 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," Cameron responded, as he sat down to his chicken pot pie. "Let's hang lots of brilliant orange balloons and cover the washstand and the TV with turquoise crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father calmly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Delores Bell. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a ladle."
"Just a minute," Cameron responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a beam. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."