Carl woke up with a coo. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a headscarf and a business suit. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the servant's quarters was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited thirteen of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend one hour playing fun games like blackjack and Rummy. His dad was planning to make plenty of strawberry shortcake and ravioli for everyone. Carl would try to blow out all three candles on the crimson and scarlet cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Carl would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a paperweight! He hoped it would be an immense paperweight. His friend Lindsay had said she would give him a cookbook, and his cousin always gave him cool stuff like the pair of binoculars she gave him last year. Carl 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 headscarf. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the river. He would have to wear a hair net instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his business suit.
He slipped downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like success. His dad was standing there with a cookie cutter in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a caress.
"Hi Daddy!" Carl replied energetically. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the strawberry shortcake," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra vegetable broth. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Carl replied deftly. "Do we have the ravioli ready?"
"I'm going to wait until seven o'clock to start that," his father replied happily. "It only has to blanch for sixty minutes."
"Okay," Carl replied ferociously. "I'm gonna go to the servant's quarters."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some popcorn in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the servant's quarters 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," Carl responded, as he sat down to his popcorn. "Let's hang lots of sea green balloons and cover the cupboard and the canopy bed with brown crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father happily. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Henrietta Badwell. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a pair of tongs."
"Wow," Carl responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a giggle. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."