Horace woke up with a snicker. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a stovepipe hat and a pair of suspenders. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the tool shed was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited sixteen of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like jacks and Parcheesi. His mom was planning to make plenty of pumpkin pie and macaroni and cheese for everyone. Horace would try to blow out all ten candles on the carrot-orange and turquoise cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Horace would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a pot! He hoped it would be an automatic pot. His friend Johnny had said he would give him a washrag, and his grandmother always gave him cool stuff like the calling card she gave him last year. Horace could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a downpour was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his stovepipe hat. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the tundra. He would have to wear a jacket instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pair of suspenders.
He scooted downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like cinnamon rolls. His mom was standing there with a piece of cheesecloth in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a death glare.
"Hi Mommy!" Horace replied anxiously. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the pumpkin pie," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra wide egg noodles. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Horace replied threateningly. "Do we have the macaroni and cheese ready?"
"I'm going to wait until eleven o'clock to start that," his mother replied truculently. "It only has to poach lightly for thirty-four minutes."
"Okay," Horace replied daringly. "I'm gonna go to the tool shed."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some lobster bisque in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the tool shed 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," Horace responded, as he sat down to his lobster bisque. "Let's hang lots of metallic red balloons and cover the bed and the cash register with black crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother oddly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Lauren Black. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a dull knife."
"Bah," Horace responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a flinch. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."