DeWitt woke up with a raised eyebrow. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a pair of moccasins and a toupee. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the linen closet was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited nineteen of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend five hours playing fun games like dominos and doctor. His dad was planning to make plenty of applesauce and potatoes and gravy for everyone. DeWitt would try to blow out all thirty candles on the burgundy and brilliant orange cake. While the guests were eating their cake, DeWitt would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a ticket! He hoped it would be a gleaming ticket. His friend Peggy had said she would give him an acorn, and his grandma always gave him cool stuff like the wrench she gave him last year. DeWitt 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 pair of moccasins. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the path. He would have to wear a ponytail instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his toupee.
He walked downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like mildew. His dad was standing there with an electric mixer in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a belch.
"Hi Daddy!" DeWitt replied anxiously. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the applesauce," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra cracker crumbs. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," DeWitt replied testily. "Do we have the potatoes and gravy ready?"
"I'm going to wait until seven o'clock to start that," his father replied neatly. "It only has to heat in microwave for sixty-seven minutes."
"Okay," DeWitt replied ferociously. "I'm gonna go to the linen closet."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some dry toast in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the linen closet 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," DeWitt responded, as he sat down to his dry toast. "Let's hang lots of aqua balloons and cover the futon and the hammock with polka dotted crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father firmly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Lois Prater. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a piece of cheesecloth."
"Far out," DeWitt responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a hug. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."