Elijah woke up with a pound of the chest. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a set of vampire fangs and a gown. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the conservatory was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited twenty-three of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend five hours playing fun games like volleyball and jump rope. His dad was planning to make plenty of ramen noodles and lobster bisque for everyone. Elijah would try to blow out all seventeen candles on the sea green and amber cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Elijah would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain an accordion! He hoped it would be a new accordion. His friend Meghan had said she would give him a helmet, and his mentor always gave him cool stuff like the bag she gave him last year. Elijah could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a lightning storm was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his set of vampire fangs. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the hillside. He would have to wear a pair of khakis instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his gown.
He scurried downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like incense. His dad was standing there with a bare foot in his hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" he said with a honk.
"Hi Daddy!" Elijah replied boldly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the ramen noodles," he replied. "I decided to make it with extra parsley. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Elijah replied tearfully. "Do we have the lobster bisque ready?"
"I'm going to wait until two o'clock to start that," his father replied bitterly. "It only has to melt for fourteen minutes."
"Okay," Elijah replied briskly. "I'm gonna go to the conservatory."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some lobster bisque in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the conservatory 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," Elijah responded, as he sat down to his lobster bisque. "Let's hang lots of olive drab balloons and cover the pillow and the cupboard with periwinkle crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his father wryly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite singer, Shawna Charles. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a pastry blender."
"Bowwow," Elijah responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Father with a pout. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."