Doug woke up with a hoot. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a raincoat and a pair of moccasins. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the garage was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-three of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend three hours playing fun games like hearts and roulette. His dad was planning to make plenty of fish and chips and chicken pot pie for everyone. Doug would try to blow out all fourteen candles on the yellow and violet cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Doug would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a candle! He hoped it would be a smooth candle. His friend Gloria had said she would give him a magazine, and his friend always gave him cool stuff like the flashlight she gave him last year. Doug 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 raincoat. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the buffalo wallow. He would have to wear a letter jacket instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pair of moccasins.
He sneaked downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like burning trash. His dad was standing there with a strainer in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a shiver.
"Hi Daddy!" Doug replied clumsily. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the fish and chips," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra tomato sauce. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Doug replied dreamily. "Do we have the chicken pot pie ready?"
"I'm going to wait until eleven o'clock to start that," his father replied doubtfully. "It only has to fry for eight minutes."
"Okay," Doug replied gratefully. "I'm gonna go to the garage."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some duck a l'orange in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the garage 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," Doug responded, as he sat down to his duck a l'orange. "Let's hang lots of salmon balloons and cover the bed and the bar stool with sea green crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father recklessly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Susie Weinstein. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a chopstick."
"Ten-four," Doug responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a death glare. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."