Floyd woke up with a sniff. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in an overcoat and a pair of suspenders. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the foyer was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited five of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like volleyball and Mother May I. His mom was planning to make plenty of cinnamon toast and jambalaya for everyone. Floyd would try to blow out all eleven candles on the magenta and teal cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Floyd would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a clarinet! He hoped it would be a gruesome clarinet. His friend Rich had said he would give him a piece of candy, and his cousin always gave him cool stuff like the hubcap she gave him last year. Floyd could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a tornado was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his overcoat. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the plateau. He would have to wear a toga instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his pair of suspenders.
He sauntered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like a saloon. His mom was standing there with a sharp knife in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a titter.
"Hi Mommy!" Floyd replied crossly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the cinnamon toast," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra whale blubber. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Floyd replied sorrowfully. "Do we have the jambalaya ready?"
"I'm going to wait until six o'clock to start that," his mother replied crankily. "It only has to spread into container for sixty-nine minutes."
"Okay," Floyd replied sternly. "I'm gonna go to the foyer."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some chicken pot pie in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the foyer 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," Floyd responded, as he sat down to his chicken pot pie. "Let's hang lots of camouflage balloons and cover the coat rack and the cash register with olive green crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother softly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Grace Crabtree. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a sharp knife."
"Inconceivable," Floyd responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a flinch. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."