Luis woke up with a hug. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a gas mask and a lab coat. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the library was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-nine of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend four hours playing fun games like chess and cribbage. His dad was planning to make plenty of oyster on the half-shell and enchiladas for everyone. Luis would try to blow out all twenty-two candles on the white and grey cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Luis would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a basketball! He hoped it would be a used basketball. His friend Evette had said she would give him a pop bottle, and his girlfriend always gave him cool stuff like the toilet seat she gave him last year. Luis 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 gas mask. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the pond. He would have to wear a headscarf instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his lab coat.
He skidded downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like asparagus. His dad was standing there with a basting brush in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a snuffle.
"Hi Daddy!" Luis replied later. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the oyster on the half-shell," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra ground pork. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Luis replied solemnly. "Do we have the enchiladas ready?"
"I'm going to wait until nine o'clock to start that," his father replied wearily. "It only has to freeze for seventeen minutes."
"Okay," Luis replied admiringly. "I'm gonna go to the library."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some egg rolls in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the library 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," Luis responded, as he sat down to his egg rolls. "Let's hang lots of sparkly balloons and cover the catbird seat and the washing machine with jade crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father brashly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Norma Shainberg. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a wooden spoon."
"That's crazy talk," Luis responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a beam. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."