Free Two Under Par by Kevin Henkes

favorites—Cap’n Crunch, Spaghetti-O’s, Doritos, and M&M’s.
    Being surrounded by all that food increased Wedge’s hunger. He couldn’t wait until they got to McDonald’s. He opened the M&M’s on the way.
    Sally got the idea while they were eating. Wedge had ordered two Big Macs, fries, and a chocolate shake. All Sally had was decaffeinated coffee. Black. But she kept snitching Wedge’s fries. “Just one,” she’d say, even after her fifth and sixth fry. “I really shouldn’t be eating these. I don’t know what my problem is today.”
    â€œYou’re okay, right?” Wedge asked.
    Sally sighed and grabbed another fry. “I think so. I wonder if you can get morning sickness in the afternoon.”
    Wedge didn’t say anything. He moved what was left of his fries closer to him.
    â€œOh, Wedge, look at that!” Sally nearly shouted, tapping his shoulder and pointing. “Isn’t that adorable?” In the back room of the restaurant a child’s birthday party was in full swing. The singing had just begun—eight little kids all out of key. “I could cry,” Sally said. And she did. “The birthday girl’s just a button, isn’t she? And look at the cake—it’s got Ronald McDonald on it!”
    â€œYeah. It’s neat, I guess. For little kids.” Wedge loved the food at McDonald’s, but Ronald McDonald didn’t thrill him anymore. He put him in the same category as Mr. Rogers.
    â€œI’ve got an idea,” Sally said, drying her eyes with a napkin. “Oh, Wedge, this is going to be good. Tell me what you think.”
    Wedge listened.
    Sally’s idea was to have a party—a birthday party for the baby. The very next day. “We’ll have balloons and crepe paper,” Sally announced. “And I’ll bake a birthday cake. One from scratch. I’ve only done the kind from a mix, but this is special. King can help me. Oh, Wedge, what do you think?”
    Wedge hadn’t seen Sally so excited in a long time. Genuinely excited. Her eyes were as big as overcoat buttons. Her hands were like butterflies, flapping and fluttering as she talked. She looked as if she might rise off the ground and float away.
    â€œDo people do things like that?” he asked. He had never heard of it. “You said the baby won’t be born until February.”
    â€œWell, people have baby showers. I don’t see why we can’t do this. Anyway, February’s so far away. I can’t wait.” Sally paused. “I’ll invite your Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Larry and some of the girls from work. You can invite Judith and Jackie and Eric.”
    â€œThat’s okay,” Wedge said. “I’d rather not.” He hadn’t heard from them. Seeing them when school started would be soon enough.
    â€œLet’s go, honey.” Sally rose from their booth. “Can you finish eating in the car? We’ve got a lot to do. I want to pick up the balloons and the crepe paper right away.”
    Driving home the plans changed.
    â€œMaybe it would be better to keep the party just us. You know, a family affair,” Sally said, her eyes fixed on the road ahead.
    Wedge liked that idea for more than one reason.
    â€œOur first, special, family celebration. Just the six of us!” Sally said with a whoop.
    â€œSix?” Wedge said.
    â€œSix. You and me and King and Andrew and Prince and our baby-to-be,” Sally replied slowly, pumping the accelerator a bit as she said each name, for extra emphasis.
    Wedge nodded his head and tightened his seat belt. “Six,” he said.
    At home the plans changed again.
    â€œDo we have to get a present for the baby?” Andrew asked.
    â€œNo,” King answered. “We’re just having a little celebra—”
    â€œWait!” Sally interrupted. “That’s a great idea. You can’t have a party without