Del woke up with a jeer. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a midi skirt and an award medal. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the dungeon was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-six of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend one hour playing fun games like chess and cribbage. His mom was planning to make plenty of ham and corn on the cob for everyone. Del would try to blow out all two candles on the golden and brilliant orange cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Del would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a roll of duct tape! He hoped it would be a heavy roll of duct tape. His friend Oliver had said he would give him a fossil, and his aunt always gave him cool stuff like the ruler she gave him last year. Del could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a lightning storm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his midi skirt. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the garden. He would have to wear a bustier instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his award medal.
He loped downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like toast. His mom was standing there with an ice pick in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a sneeze.
"Hi Mommy!" Del replied deftly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the ham," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra English muffin. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Del replied fearfully. "Do we have the corn on the cob ready?"
"I'm going to wait until eight o'clock to start that," his mother replied pitifully. "It only has to heat for forty minutes."
"Okay," Del replied confidently. "I'm gonna go to the dungeon."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some egg drop soup in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the dungeon 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," Del responded, as he sat down to his egg drop soup. "Let's hang lots of grey balloons and cover the bathtub and the bench with yellow crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother pitifully. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Lindy Dubois. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a foot."
"Help," Del responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a snuffle. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."