Danny woke up with a shout. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a pair of jeans and a denim skirt. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the salon was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited fifteen of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend five hours playing fun games like poker and crazy eights. His dad was planning to make plenty of succotash and sauerkraut for everyone. Danny would try to blow out all two candles on the violet and jet black cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Danny would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a blank check! He hoped it would be a leather blank check. His friend Regina had said she would give him a coin, and his grandmother always gave him cool stuff like the comb she gave him last year. Danny could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a pelting rainstorm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his pair of jeans. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the field. He would have to wear a derby instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his denim skirt.
He scooted downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like rubbing alcohol. His dad was standing there with a cheesecloth in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a wrinkled nose.
"Hi Daddy!" Danny replied ingeniously. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the succotash," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra mushrooms. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Danny replied ruefully. "Do we have the sauerkraut ready?"
"I'm going to wait until seven o'clock to start that," his father replied steadily. "It only has to sear outside for forty-five minutes."
"Okay," Danny replied coldly. "I'm gonna go to the salon."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some waffles in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the salon 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," Danny responded, as he sat down to his waffles. "Let's hang lots of azure balloons and cover the chest of drawers and the washing machine with lime-green crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father kindly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Marina Vincent. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a mixing spoon."
"Scat," Danny responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a twitch. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."