Siggy woke up with a laugh. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a Superman costume and a pair of earrings. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the porch was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited three of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend one hour playing fun games like billiards and billiards. His mom was planning to make plenty of lime sherbet and refried beans for everyone. Siggy would try to blow out all five candles on the brilliant orange and amber cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Siggy would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a hacksaw! He hoped it would be a bronze hacksaw. His friend Buddy had said he would give him a paper clip, and his main squeeze always gave him cool stuff like the spool of thread she gave him last year. Siggy could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that an earthquake was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his Superman costume. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the tundra. He would have to wear a towel instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pair of earrings.
He rushed downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like smelling salts. His mom was standing there with a food processor in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a hug.
"Hi Mommy!" Siggy replied daringly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the lime sherbet," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra ground beef. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Siggy replied grimly. "Do we have the refried beans ready?"
"I'm going to wait until eight o'clock to start that," his mother replied victoriously. "It only has to press for forty-eight minutes."
"Okay," Siggy replied daringly. "I'm gonna go to the porch."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some country glazed ham in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the porch 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," Siggy responded, as he sat down to his country glazed ham. "Let's hang lots of purple balloons and cover the casket and the safe with jet black crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother fondly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Holly Ryan. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a strainer."
"Inconceivable," Siggy responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a belly laugh. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."