Milo woke up with a death glare. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a wristwatch and a pair of shorts. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the pantry was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-eight of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend seven hours playing fun games like doctor and old maid. His dad was planning to make plenty of succotash and applesauce for everyone. Milo would try to blow out all thirty-five candles on the emerald green and brilliant orange cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Milo would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain an oriental vase! He hoped it would be a peculiar oriental vase. His friend Beulah had said she would give him a pearl, and his sister always gave him cool stuff like the key she gave him last year. Milo could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a drought was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his wristwatch. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the dump. He would have to wear a headscarf instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pair of shorts.
He reeled downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like rotting meat. His dad was standing there with an electric mixer in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a raised eyebrow.
"Hi Daddy!" Milo replied blissfully. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the succotash," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra water chestnuts. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Milo replied wryly. "Do we have the applesauce ready?"
"I'm going to wait until one o'clock to start that," his father replied temperamentally. "It only has to mix softly for fifty-three minutes."
"Okay," Milo replied cruelly. "I'm gonna go to the pantry."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some mushroom quiche in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the pantry 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," Milo responded, as he sat down to his mushroom quiche. "Let's hang lots of magenta balloons and cover the hamper and the billiard table with maroon crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father craftily. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Annabelle Baird. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a dull knife."
"Sieg Heil," Milo responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a backward glance. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."