Spud woke up with a woof. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a wedding dress and a pair of combat boots. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the front porch was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited ten of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend two hours playing fun games like hearts and croquet. His dad was planning to make plenty of strawberry shortcake and dry toast for everyone. Spud would try to blow out all eleven candles on the navy blue and green cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Spud would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a dart! He hoped it would be a mysterious dart. His friend Blanca had said she would give him a coat hanger, and his dad always gave him cool stuff like the magazine she gave him last year. Spud 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 wedding dress. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the meadow. He would have to wear a toga instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pair of combat boots.
He hopped downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like rotting meat. His dad was standing there with a Sham-Wow! in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a face palm.
"Hi Daddy!" Spud replied zestily. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the strawberry shortcake," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra salmon. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Spud replied wearily. "Do we have the dry toast ready?"
"I'm going to wait until eight o'clock to start that," his father replied cheerfully. "It only has to sauté for forty-five minutes."
"Okay," Spud replied swiftly. "I'm gonna go to the front porch."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some cabbage in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the front porch 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," Spud responded, as he sat down to his cabbage. "Let's hang lots of black balloons and cover the bar stool and the bookcase with jade crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father intensely. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Samina Shakewell. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has an ice pick."
"WTF," Spud responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a snuffle. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."