Bert woke up with a guffaw. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a flak jacket and a midi skirt. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the basement was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited four of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like dominos and bridge. His mom was planning to make plenty of ceviche and omelet for everyone. Bert would try to blow out all four candles on the tan and pink cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Bert would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a pacifier! He hoped it would be a rare pacifier. His friend Douglas had said he would give him a yardstick, and his mom always gave him cool stuff like the teddy bear she gave him last year. Bert could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that an ice storm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his flak jacket. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the savanna. He would have to wear a flak jacket instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his midi skirt.
He capered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like Chanel. His mom was standing there with a basting brush in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a hiccup.
"Hi Mommy!" Bert replied immediately. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the ceviche," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra corn oil. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Bert replied brashly. "Do we have the omelet ready?"
"I'm going to wait until eight o'clock to start that," his mother replied gently. "It only has to allow to rise in warm place for several hours for twenty-four minutes."
"Okay," Bert replied numbly. "I'm gonna go to the basement."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some cabbage rolls in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the basement 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," Bert responded, as he sat down to his cabbage rolls. "Let's hang lots of polka dotted balloons and cover the carpet and the cupboard with terra cotta crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother hysterically. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Betty Tannenbaum. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has an oven mitt."
"Congratulations," Bert responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a smirk. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."