Hugh woke up with a clenched fist. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a thong and a pair of culottes. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the guest room was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-four of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend seven hours playing fun games like Scrabble and volleyball. His dad was planning to make plenty of tofu and beans for everyone. Hugh would try to blow out all sixteen candles on the violet and forest green cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Hugh would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a paper bag! He hoped it would be a loose paper bag. His friend Eloise had said she would give him a napkin, and his mother-in-law always gave him cool stuff like the lollipop she gave him last year. Hugh could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a hailstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his thong. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the gulch. He would have to wear a maxi skirt instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pair of culottes.
He skittered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like car exhaust. His dad was standing there with a spatula in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a finger gun.
"Hi Daddy!" Hugh replied sourly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the tofu," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra kiwis. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Hugh replied properly. "Do we have the beans ready?"
"I'm going to wait until three o'clock to start that," his father replied sarcastically. "It only has to steam for seventy-seven minutes."
"Okay," Hugh replied gracefully. "I'm gonna go to the guest room."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some macaroni in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the guest 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," Hugh responded, as he sat down to his macaroni. "Let's hang lots of magenta balloons and cover the counter and the washstand with burgundy crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father steadily. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Sissy Grayheels. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has an oven mitt."
"The joke's on me," Hugh responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a giggle. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."