Everett woke up with a wink. Today was his birthday! He was going to have a lot of fun today. First, he would dress up in a straitjacket and a beanie. Then, he would run downstairs to see if the boiler room was decorated and ready for the party. They had invited thirteen of his closest friends. When everyone arrived, they would spend eight hours playing fun games like shuffleboard and ring around the rosie. His mom was planning to make plenty of cornbread and sushi for everyone. Everett would try to blow out all thirteen candles on the aqua and red cake. While the guests were eating their cake, Everett would be opening his gifts. Maybe the first package would contain a fire hose! He hoped it would be a burned fire hose. His friend Wendell had said he would give him a wrench, and his mother always gave him cool stuff like the paper towel she gave him last year. Everett could hardly wait!
He glanced out the window and was surprised to see that a gale was on its way. Hopefully, that wouldn't deter anyone from coming. He looked in his closet for his straitjacket. It wasn't there. Uh oh. It was still dirty from his day at the island. He would have to wear a turtleneck instead. He didn't really care, as long as he could still wear his beanie.
He capered downstairs and went into the kitchen. It smelled like greasepaint. His mom was standing there with a wooden spoon in her hand. "Happy Birthday Son!" she said with a stiff upper lip.
"Hi Mommy!" Everett replied fondly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making the cornbread," she replied. "I decided to make it with extra sesame seeds. Hope that's okay with you."
"I guess so," Everett replied cleverly. "Do we have the sushi ready?"
"I'm going to wait until nine o'clock to start that," his mother replied briskly. "It only has to blanch for eighty minutes."
"Okay," Everett replied primly. "I'm gonna go to the boiler room."
"First, young man, you need to have some breakfast. I've got some popcorn in the skillet for you."
"Can't I just take a peek at the boiler room 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," Everett responded, as he sat down to his popcorn. "Let's hang lots of turquoise balloons and cover the hope chest and the bath mat with turquoise crepe paper."
"That's fine," said his mother primly. "The paper plates and napkins have pictures of your favorite Tv star, Greta Galloza. Set the table with them, and make sure everyone has a bare foot."
"Anyhoo," Everett responded. "I'm done, can I get started with the decorating now?"
"I think you inhaled your food," said Mother with a pound of the chest. "Go on, I'll be there in a few minutes."