Ronnie woke up with a death glare. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a toga and a pair of cargo pants. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the boiler room was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited thirteen of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend six hours playing fun games like red rover and hearts. His dad was planning to make plenty of smoked salmon and chocolate-covered ants for everyone. Ronnie would try to blow out all sixteen candles on the blue and silver cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Ronnie would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain an iPod! He hoped it would be a gruesome iPod. His friend Sandra had said she would give him a cookbook, and his grandmother always gave him cool stuff like the padlock she gave him last year. Ronnie could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a period of warm weather was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his toga. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the ridge. He would have to wear a skirt instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pair of cargo pants.
He stalked downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like cigar smoke. His dad was standing there with a basting brush in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a flush.
"Hi Daddy!" Ronnie replied oddly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the smoked salmon," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra cream of tomato soup. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Ronnie replied sarcastically. "Do we have the chocolate-covered ants ready?"
"I'm going to wait until five o'clock to start that," his father replied majestically. "It only has to sear for eighty-seven minutes."
"Okay," Ronnie replied swiftly. "I'm gonna go to the boiler room."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some country glazed ham in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the boiler room 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," Ronnie responded, as he sat down to his country glazed ham. "Let's hang lots of magenta balloons and cover the pillow and the filing cabinet with salmon crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father sadly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Bobbie Foreman. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a bare foot."
"I don't think so," Ronnie responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a wrinkled nose. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."