Shane woke up with a grunt. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a big red rose and a gas mask. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the living room was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited one of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend five hours playing fun games like ring around the rosie and dodge ball. His dad was planning to make plenty of omelet and lamb curry for everyone. Shane would try to blow out all twenty-three candles on the silver and azure cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Shane would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a campaign sign! He hoped it would be an amazing campaign sign. His friend Antonia had said she would give him a hacksaw, and his girlfriend always gave him cool stuff like the cotton ball she gave him last year. Shane could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a pelting rainstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his big red rose. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the countryside. He would have to wear a bonnet instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his gas mask.
He made a beeline downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like Chanel No. 5. His dad was standing there with a cookie cutter in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a shout.
"Hi Daddy!" Shane replied hopefully. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the omelet," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra garlic powder. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Shane replied nicely. "Do we have the lamb curry ready?"
"I'm going to wait until twelve o'clock to start that," his father replied flightily. "It only has to roast for seventy-two minutes."
"Okay," Shane replied openly. "I'm gonna go to the living room."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some cornbread in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the living 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," Shane responded, as he sat down to his cornbread. "Let's hang lots of terra cotta balloons and cover the bathtub and the rug with ivory crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father tenderly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Susanne Fujimoto. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a sharp knife."
"I'm on it," Shane responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a laugh. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."