Britt woke up with a frown. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a girdle and a party hat. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the conservatory was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited two of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend five hours playing fun games like pool and Simon Says. His dad was planning to make plenty of candy and hash for everyone. Britt would try to blow out all twenty-six candles on the green and olive drab cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Britt would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a basketball! He hoped it would be an important basketball. His friend Doralene had said she would give him a daisy, and his wife always gave him cool stuff like the fountain pen she gave him last year. Britt could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a drizzle was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his girdle. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the steppe. He would have to wear a baseball cap instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his party hat.
He stormed downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like gasoline. His dad was standing there with a pair of tongs in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a sniff.
"Hi Daddy!" Britt replied coldly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the candy," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra asparagus. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Britt replied unnaturally. "Do we have the hash ready?"
"I'm going to wait until four o'clock to start that," his father replied hopelessly. "It only has to marinate for three minutes."
"Okay," Britt replied tenderly. "I'm gonna go to the conservatory."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some strawberry shortcake in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the conservatory 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," Britt responded, as he sat down to his strawberry shortcake. "Let's hang lots of sea green balloons and cover the chair and the end table with green crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father fervently. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Kendra Cantrell. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has an electric paint mixer."
"Alas," Britt responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a sigh. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."