Randall woke up with a pound of the chest. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a necktie and a heavy layer of makeup. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the game room was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-five of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like ring around the rosie and Simon Says. His mom was planning to make plenty of cabbage rolls and squash blossom soup for everyone. Randall would try to blow out all twenty-nine candles on the burgundy and crimson cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Randall would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a horseshoe! He hoped it would be a frilly horseshoe. His friend Papa had said he would give him a hat, and his grandma always gave him cool stuff like the fish bowl she gave him last year. Randall 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 necktie. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the bog. He would have to wear a dunce cap instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his heavy layer of makeup.
He danced downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like airplane glue. His mom was standing there with a dull knife in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a wag of the finger.
"Hi Mommy!" Randall replied noisily. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the cabbage rolls," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra pomegranate juice. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Randall replied jokingly. "Do we have the squash blossom soup ready?"
"I'm going to wait until one o'clock to start that," his mother replied courteously. "It only has to melt for seventy-three minutes."
"Okay," Randall replied fearlessly. "I'm gonna go to the game room."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some sushi 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 mother replied. "Remember, I'm depending on you to help with the decorating."
"Oh yeah," Randall responded, as he sat down to his sushi. "Let's hang lots of grey balloons and cover the counter and the footstool with green crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother deftly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Wilma Higgins. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a grater."
"I'll bet," Randall responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a twitch. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."