Jeremy 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 shorts and a midi skirt. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the parlor was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited eleven of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend six hours playing fun games like Rummy and poker. His mom was planning to make plenty of potatoes and gravy and Froot Loops for everyone. Jeremy would try to blow out all ten candles on the sea green and pea green cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Jeremy would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a remote control! He hoped it would be an expensive remote control. His friend Alexander had said he would give him a can of beans, and his grandpa always gave him cool stuff like the tube of glue she gave him last year. Jeremy could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a hot, sunny day was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his pair of shorts. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the moonscape. He would have to wear a tailcoat instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his midi skirt.
He tore downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like wet paint. His mom was standing there with an electric mixer in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a roar.
"Hi Mommy!" Jeremy replied sorrowfully. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the potatoes and gravy," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra marshmallows. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Jeremy replied surreptitiously. "Do we have the Froot Loops ready?"
"I'm going to wait until six o'clock to start that," his mother replied clumsily. "It only has to sear outside for three minutes."
"Okay," Jeremy replied hastily. "I'm gonna go to the parlor."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some sweet potatoes in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the parlor 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," Jeremy responded, as he sat down to his sweet potatoes. "Let's hang lots of peach balloons and cover the hatstand and the bed with blue crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother tensely. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Dierdre Bear. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a knife."
"Yowee," Jeremy responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a shrug. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."