Brandon woke up with a hoot. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a bustier and a denim skirt. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the servant's quarters was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited two of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend four hours playing fun games like ring around the rosie and Simon Says. His dad was planning to make plenty of popcorn and beef bouillon for everyone. Brandon would try to blow out all nineteen candles on the indigo and polka dotted cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Brandon would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a box of candy! He hoped it would be a fresh box of candy. His friend Reba had said she would give him a bird bath, and his sister-in-law always gave him cool stuff like the fingernail clipper she gave him last year. Brandon could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a blizzard was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his bustier. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the desert. He would have to wear a trench coat instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his denim skirt.
He climbed downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like tobacco. His dad was standing there with a wooden spoon in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a gurgle.
"Hi Daddy!" Brandon replied hysterically. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the popcorn," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra rum. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Brandon replied despondently. "Do we have the beef bouillon ready?"
"I'm going to wait until eight o'clock to start that," his father replied impatiently. "It only has to allow to rise in warm place for several hours for seventy-seven minutes."
"Okay," Brandon replied nonchalantly. "I'm gonna go to the servant's quarters."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some pumpkin pie in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the servant's quarters 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," Brandon responded, as he sat down to his pumpkin pie. "Let's hang lots of periwinkle balloons and cover the floor and the bookshelf with hot pink crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father angrily. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Faye Halperin. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a knife."
"Gee whillikers," Brandon responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a kiss. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."