André woke up with a wink. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a fez and a space suit. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the auditorium was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited four of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like old maid and battleship. His dad was planning to make plenty of Froot Loops and egg salad sandwich for everyone. André would try to blow out all thirty-two candles on the hot pink and jet black cake. While the guests were eating their cake, André would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a candle! He hoped it would be a golden candle. His friend Monica had said she would give him a Bunsen burner, and his cousin always gave him cool stuff like the feather duster she gave him last year. André could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a drought was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his fez. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the range. He would have to wear a blouse instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his space suit.
He sailed downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like rotten fish. His dad was standing there with a mixing spoon in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a woof.
"Hi Daddy!" André replied dolefully. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the Froot Loops," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra limburger cheese. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," André replied gleefully. "Do we have the egg salad sandwich ready?"
"I'm going to wait until four o'clock to start that," his father replied uselessly. "It only has to toast for thirty-three minutes."
"Okay," André replied proudly. "I'm gonna go to the auditorium."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some chopped liver in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the auditorium 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," André responded, as he sat down to his chopped liver. "Let's hang lots of peach balloons and cover the toilet and the piano with chocolate brown crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father deftly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Jeanette Ortiz. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a garlic press."
"Why," André responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a belly laugh. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."