LaDue woke up with a gurgle. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a hood and a cloak. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the hall was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-nine of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend three hours playing fun games like trivia and Parcheesi. His mom was planning to make plenty of fried okra and French fries for everyone. LaDue would try to blow out all twenty-eight candles on the jade and salmon cake. While the guests were eating their cake, LaDue would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a pillow! He hoped it would be a worn pillow. His friend Chad had said he would give him a pillow, and his sister always gave him cool stuff like the padlock she gave him last year. LaDue could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a humid day was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his hood. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the mesa. He would have to wear a towel instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his cloak.
He reeled downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like smelling salts. His mom was standing there with a strainer in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a beam.
"Hi Mommy!" LaDue replied defiantly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the fried okra," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra kiwis. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," LaDue replied clumsily. "Do we have the French fries ready?"
"I'm going to wait until five o'clock to start that," his mother replied confidently. "It only has to braise for forty-five minutes."
"Okay," LaDue replied violently. "I'm gonna go to the hall."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some egg salad sandwich in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the hall 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," LaDue responded, as he sat down to his egg salad sandwich. "Let's hang lots of pea green balloons and cover the floor and the overstuffed chair with olive drab crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother sarcastically. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Rose Bogart. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a blender."
"Leapin' lizards," LaDue responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a snarl. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."