Jeff woke up with a backward glance. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a fez and a bra. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the solarium was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited one of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend four hours playing fun games like jump rope and tag. His mom was planning to make plenty of spaghetti and ramen noodles for everyone. Jeff would try to blow out all eleven candles on the khaki and scarlet cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Jeff would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a pizza! He hoped it would be a mechanical pizza. His friend Dave had said he would give him a cookbook, and his cousin always gave him cool stuff like the rose she gave him last year. Jeff could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a typhoon was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his fez. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the buffalo wallow. He would have to wear a badger costume instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his bra.
He slunk downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like Yves Saint Laurent. His mom was standing there with a grater in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a wrinkled nose.
"Hi Mommy!" Jeff replied grimly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the spaghetti," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra diced pineapple. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Jeff replied confidently. "Do we have the ramen noodles ready?"
"I'm going to wait until nine o'clock to start that," his mother replied cruelly. "It only has to roast for eighty-two minutes."
"Okay," Jeff replied blankly. "I'm gonna go to the solarium."
"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 solarium 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," Jeff responded, as he sat down to his macaroni and cheese. "Let's hang lots of ivory balloons and cover the water bed and the dresser with chartreuse crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother narrowly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Ellen Hanson. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a pair of chopsticks."
"Suffering sassafras," Jeff responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a cheer. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."