Horst woke up with a gurgle. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a pair of dentures and a pair of trousers. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the conservatory was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited eleven of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend one hour playing fun games like checkers and red light green light. His mom was planning to make plenty of pumpkin pie and strawberry shortcake for everyone. Horst would try to blow out all eight candles on the purple and metallic red cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Horst would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a vase! He hoped it would be a cardboard vase. His friend Justin had said he would give him a dollar bill, and his mommy always gave him cool stuff like the fire hose she gave him last year. Horst could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a windstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his pair of dentures. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the mountainside. He would have to wear a pair of jeans instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pair of trousers.
He leapt downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like tea. His mom was standing there with a napkin in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a snicker.
"Hi Mommy!" Horst replied despondently. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the pumpkin pie," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra mozzarella cheese. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Horst replied viciously. "Do we have the strawberry shortcake ready?"
"I'm going to wait until two o'clock to start that," his mother replied openly. "It only has to roast for seventy-eight minutes."
"Okay," Horst replied majestically. "I'm gonna go to the conservatory."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some shrimp in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the conservatory 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," Horst responded, as he sat down to his shrimp. "Let's hang lots of rose balloons and cover the hope chest and the wardrobe with indigo crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother hopefully. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Kay Brady. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a bare foot."
"Woohoo," Horst responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a cackle. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."