Hugo woke up with a frown. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a pair of cargo pants and a pair of cycling shorts. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the lounge was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend three hours playing fun games like hopscotch and trivia. His mom was planning to make plenty of applesauce and pumpkin pie for everyone. Hugo would try to blow out all six candles on the olive green and aquamarine cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Hugo would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a cell phone! He hoped it would be a funny cell phone. His friend Thad had said he would give him a rag, and his mentor always gave him cool stuff like the water bottle she gave him last year. Hugo could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a rainstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his pair of cargo pants. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the outback. He would have to wear a miniskirt instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pair of cycling shorts.
He galumphed downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like vanilla. His mom was standing there with a spoon in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a jeer.
"Hi Mommy!" Hugo replied primly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the applesauce," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra sugar. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Hugo replied busily. "Do we have the pumpkin pie ready?"
"I'm going to wait until nine o'clock to start that," his mother replied charmingly. "It only has to freeze for ten minutes."
"Okay," Hugo replied peevishly. "I'm gonna go to the lounge."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some oyster on the half-shell in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the lounge 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," Hugo responded, as he sat down to his oyster on the half-shell. "Let's hang lots of orange balloons and cover the cupboard and the ottoman with sparkly crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother deftly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Alice Fischer. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has an electric mixer."
"Holy minerva," Hugo responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a chortle. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."