CHAPTER 21

As Papa Pete walked me home, I thought about everything that had happened on my party day. And if I give myself any more parties in the future, here are ten rules I made for myself.

HANK ZIPZER’S TEN RULES FOR SELF-PARTY GIVING

  1. Only invite two-legged creatures with nostrils. (Except for Cheerio, who is used to parties and has great party manners.)
  2. Eat your black-and-white birthday cookie first in case one of your guests decides to take a bath in a bowl of soup.
  3. Don’t forget to take your whoopee cushion party favor or you won’t be able to put it under the big butt of Nick McKelty.
  4. Make sure your balloon doesn’t say “Get Well Soon” because all the grown-ups want to check and make sure you don’t have a fever.
  5. Take at least one bite of your pepperoni pizza, and if a spider gets loose before you have time to finish it, make sure that you ask for a doggie bag. When you get home, remind the dog that doggie bags are for people.
  6. I was just starting to think up Number Six when we reached the front door of my building. Sorry that I didn’t get to ten. I would have, if the walk from Harvey’s to my apartment wasn’t so short.