Solomon woke up with a tear. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a pair of toe shoes and a straitjacket. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the patio was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited nine of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like ring around the rosie and solitaire. His dad was planning to make plenty of burritos and sauerkraut for everyone. Solomon would try to blow out all twenty-one candles on the aquamarine and maroon cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Solomon would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a stick of gum! He hoped it would be a gigantic stick of gum. His friend Wesley had said she would give him a vase, and his dad always gave him cool stuff like the chain she gave him last year. Solomon could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a blanket of mist was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his pair of toe shoes. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the steppe. He would have to wear a headscarf instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his straitjacket.
He ran downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like greasepaint. His dad was standing there with a ladle in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a furrowed brow.
"Hi Daddy!" Solomon replied dolefully. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the burritos," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra frozen spinach. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Solomon replied awkwardly. "Do we have the sauerkraut ready?"
"I'm going to wait until eight o'clock to start that," his father replied quietly. "It only has to allow to rise in warm place for several hours for sixty-four minutes."
"Okay," Solomon replied crazily. "I'm gonna go to the patio."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some macaroni and cheese in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the patio 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," Solomon responded, as he sat down to his macaroni and cheese. "Let's hang lots of metallic red balloons and cover the hammock and the dining table with burgundy crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father swiftly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Judy Potatohead. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a knife."
"Really," Solomon 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."