Devin woke up with a beam. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a straitjacket and a sombrero. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the nursery was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited eight of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend six hours playing fun games like crazy eights and leapfrog. His dad was planning to make plenty of Swiss cheese and French fries for everyone. Devin would try to blow out all nineteen candles on the amber and golden cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Devin would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a water bottle! He hoped it would be a dusty water bottle. His friend Nookie had said she would give him a Happy Meal, and his grandfather always gave him cool stuff like the radio she gave him last year. Devin could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a hailstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his straitjacket. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the path. He would have to wear a watch instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his sombrero.
He jumped downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like beer. His dad was standing there with a sharp knife in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a sneeze.
"Hi Daddy!" Devin replied warmly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the Swiss cheese," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra clam juice. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Devin replied vacantly. "Do we have the French fries ready?"
"I'm going to wait until four o'clock to start that," his father replied sadly. "It only has to broil for thirty-eight minutes."
"Okay," Devin replied cheerfully. "I'm gonna go to the nursery."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some biscuits and gravy in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the nursery 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," Devin responded, as he sat down to his biscuits and gravy. "Let's hang lots of carrot-orange balloons and cover the table and the settee with black crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father glibly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Paula Bernstein. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a grater."
"Zap," Devin responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a growl. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."