Zed woke up with a flinch. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a cheerleader's uniform and a pair of gloves. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the lounge was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited five of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like charades and doctor. His dad was planning to make plenty of moo goo gai pan and banana split for everyone. Zed would try to blow out all sixteen candles on the white and navy blue cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Zed would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a stapler! He hoped it would be a ruined stapler. His friend Belle had said she would give him a clarinet, and his cousin always gave him cool stuff like the radio she gave him last year. Zed could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a flood was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his cheerleader's uniform. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the pond. He would have to wear a suit instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pair of gloves.
He capered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like freshly baked cookies. His dad was standing there with a grater in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a pucker.
"Hi Daddy!" Zed replied crankily. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the moo goo gai pan," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra kidney beans. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Zed replied awkwardly. "Do we have the banana split ready?"
"I'm going to wait until four o'clock to start that," his father replied furiously. "It only has to heat for nineteen minutes."
"Okay," Zed replied obediently. "I'm gonna go to the lounge."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some crumb cake in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the lounge 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," Zed responded, as he sat down to his crumb cake. "Let's hang lots of black balloons and cover the nightstand and the chest of drawers with fuchsia crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father brashly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Starla Bogart. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has an electric paint mixer."
"Yahoo," Zed responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a belch. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."