Derek woke up with a caress. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a bikini and a set of vampire fangs. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the doghouse was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-seven of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend four hours playing fun games like blackjack and Rummy. His dad was planning to make plenty of moo goo gai pan and bread and butter for everyone. Derek would try to blow out all eighteen candles on the jet black and violet cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Derek would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a crutch! He hoped it would be a ridiculous crutch. His friend Lauren had said she would give him a mushroom, and his mentor always gave him cool stuff like the bird cage she gave him last year. Derek could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a thunderstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his bikini. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the buffalo wallow. He would have to wear a pair of boxing gloves instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his set of vampire fangs.
He staggered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like garlic. His dad was standing there with a piece of cheesecloth in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a hug.
"Hi Daddy!" Derek replied sweetly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the moo goo gai pan," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra parsley. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Derek replied clumsily. "Do we have the bread and butter ready?"
"I'm going to wait until eleven o'clock to start that," his father replied effortlessly. "It only has to heat in microwave for fifty-one minutes."
"Okay," Derek replied wearily. "I'm gonna go to the doghouse."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some refried beans in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the doghouse 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," Derek responded, as he sat down to his refried beans. "Let's hang lots of mauve balloons and cover the bed and the settee with khaki crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father shyly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Priscilla Clinton. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a basting brush."
"Spiff," Derek responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a cringe. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."