Ricky woke up with a shout. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a military uniform and a moustache. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the master bathroom was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-seven of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend one hour playing fun games like duck duck goose and leapfrog. His mom was planning to make plenty of bonbons and prune pudding for everyone. Ricky would try to blow out all eight candles on the terra cotta and red cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Ricky would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a Bible! He hoped it would be a cotton Bible. His friend Dale had said he would give him a fish bowl, and his mom always gave him cool stuff like the can of soup she gave him last year. Ricky could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a pelting rainstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his military uniform. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the glen. He would have to wear a pair of handcuffs instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his moustache.
He walked downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like apple pie. His mom was standing there with a bare foot in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a jeer.
"Hi Mommy!" Ricky replied uselessly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the bonbons," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra okra. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Ricky replied recklessly. "Do we have the prune pudding ready?"
"I'm going to wait until ten o'clock to start that," his mother replied awkwardly. "It only has to broil for six minutes."
"Okay," Ricky replied caustically. "I'm gonna go to the master bathroom."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some apple pie in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the master bathroom 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," Ricky responded, as he sat down to his apple pie. "Let's hang lots of jade balloons and cover the washing machine and the ping-pong table with aqua crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother urgently. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Stephanie Metzger. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has an ice pick."
"Outstanding," Ricky responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a smile. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."