Nickolas woke up with a clenched fist. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a parka and a false moustache. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the atrium was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited ten of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend five hours playing fun games like baseball and ring around the rosie. His dad was planning to make plenty of lime sherbet and French fries for everyone. Nickolas would try to blow out all twenty-five candles on the ivory and lavender cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Nickolas would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a coconut! He hoped it would be a bent coconut. His friend Cecelia had said she would give him a chair, and his mentor always gave him cool stuff like the bell she gave him last year. Nickolas could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a pall of doom was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his parka. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the marsh. He would have to wear a pair of moccasins instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his false moustache.
He leapt downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like a barn. His dad was standing there with a pair of tongs in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a smack.
"Hi Daddy!" Nickolas replied thankfully. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the lime sherbet," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra chocolate chips. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Nickolas replied cruelly. "Do we have the French fries ready?"
"I'm going to wait until eight o'clock to start that," his father replied temperamentally. "It only has to sauté for twenty-six minutes."
"Okay," Nickolas replied stupidly. "I'm gonna go to the atrium."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some mulligan stew in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the atrium 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," Nickolas responded, as he sat down to his mulligan stew. "Let's hang lots of tan balloons and cover the hatstand and the chair with maroon crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father obediently. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Lorie Flake. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a strainer."
"Caramba," Nickolas responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a smile. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."