Thomas woke up with an air kiss. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a smartwatch and a turtleneck. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the salon was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited eleven of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like solitaire and golf. His dad was planning to make plenty of chicken chow mein and cotton candy for everyone. Thomas would try to blow out all thirteen candles on the lime-green and magenta cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Thomas would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a vase! He hoped it would be a hard vase. His friend Brenda had said she would give him a mop, and his fiancée always gave him cool stuff like the purse she gave him last year. Thomas could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a dense fog was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his smartwatch. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the circus tent. He would have to wear a pair of knickerbockers instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his turtleneck.
He swaggered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like cigar smoke. His dad was standing there with a pastry blender in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a shout.
"Hi Daddy!" Thomas replied tearfully. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the chicken chow mein," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra salmon. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Thomas replied cheerfully. "Do we have the cotton candy ready?"
"I'm going to wait until one o'clock to start that," his father replied viciously. "It only has to whirl for seventy-four minutes."
"Okay," Thomas replied fervently. "I'm gonna go to the salon."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some clam chowder in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the salon 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," Thomas responded, as he sat down to his clam chowder. "Let's hang lots of yellow balloons and cover the wine rack and the cushion with amber crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father courteously. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Elinor Metzger. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a ladle."
"Kaboom," Thomas responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a grin. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."