JD woke up with a hiccup. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a belly button jewel and a necktie. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the ballroom was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend five hours playing fun games like battleship and Monopoly. His dad was planning to make plenty of pot roast and macaroni for everyone. JD would try to blow out all twenty-three candles on the emerald green and crimson cake. While the guests were eating their cake, JD would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a rope! He hoped it would be a new rope. His friend Kaitlyn had said she would give him a broom, and his sister always gave him cool stuff like the ironing board she gave him last year. JD could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a hot day was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his belly button jewel. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the pond. He would have to wear a black armband instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his necktie.
He ambled downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like a skunk. His dad was standing there with a spatula in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a coo.
"Hi Daddy!" JD replied violently. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the pot roast," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra cornstarch. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," JD replied crazily. "Do we have the macaroni ready?"
"I'm going to wait until five o'clock to start that," his father replied lamely. "It only has to braise for thirty-six minutes."
"Okay," JD replied sharply. "I'm gonna go to the ballroom."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some popcorn in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the ballroom 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," JD responded, as he sat down to his popcorn. "Let's hang lots of chocolate brown balloons and cover the pillow and the card table with sea green crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father courageously. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Babs Spangler. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a ladle."
"Chirp," JD responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a flutter. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."