Nickolas 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 ring and a few fancy rags. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the game room was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited one of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like blackjack and doctor. His dad was planning to make plenty of cabbage rolls and pot roast for everyone. Nickolas would try to blow out all six candles on the silver and indigo cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Nickolas would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a twig! He hoped it would be a petite twig. His friend Marybel had said she would give him a corsage, and his mommy always gave him cool stuff like the calling card she gave him last year. Nickolas could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a snowstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his ring. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the mountaintop. He would have to wear a cloak instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his few fancy rags.
He rolled downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like smoked fish. His dad was standing there with a blender in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a sniff.
"Hi Daddy!" Nickolas replied woodenly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the cabbage rolls," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra powdered sugar. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Nickolas replied nervously. "Do we have the pot roast ready?"
"I'm going to wait until nine o'clock to start that," his father replied sternly. "It only has to slow cook for sixty-seven minutes."
"Okay," Nickolas replied threateningly. "I'm gonna go to the game room."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some hash in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the game room 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 hash. "Let's hang lots of indigo balloons and cover the pedestal and the wine rack with turquoise crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father frenetically. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Kaylee Esser. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a sharp knife."
"Fun," 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."