Hamiltots

You're a Potato in a World of Tomatoes

"Charli and Hercules' mom are taking him to the park and then they're coming over here." Alex informed the small group that had gathered in his kitchen. "Laf, you and mom are on cake baking. Dad, you take Anna and get some sort of entertainment." The group consisted of the members of his family and their cats. "I already tackled the guest list, James is coming, not Thomas, Angelica, Peggy, Eliza, and Maria are all coming." Alex shivered slightly when he thought of being in the same room as Eliza, Angelica and Maria."

"Anybody else?" Laf asked, it sounded like a pretty small surprise birthday party, and that's not what he had imagined.

Alex nodded. "Burr, of course. Mr. Miranda and his wife are coming, and their bringing their one and a half year old. Peggy is obsessed with him despite being only one year older."
"But Peggy's strange so that's alright." Laf sighed, just stating the obvious facts about the youngest Schuyler.
"Dad, I was thinking you could go downtown to Rent-A-Game and get the mini-hoops arcade game?" Alex asked hopefully.

"Al, those games are preposterously priced. They're like hundreds of dollars for a day. I don't know if I-" George shut up when Martha shot him a 'Do this for your son's friend or else' kind of glare. "Got it, Anna and I will go down there as soon as this meeting is over. Is that okay with you Al?"
"That's perfect dad, thank you." Alex grinned at his dad and looked at Laf and his mom. "Herc's favorite kind of cake is strawberry with cream cheese frosting. If you guys could get that and then decorate a sack of tomatoes with one potato on it?"
"Sure!" Laf giggled.
"Any other requests sweetheart?" Martha asked, wanting to get everything right.
Alex nodded. "Yes, if you could write in red 'You're a potato in a world of tomatoes.' but have the world 'potato' be brown . . . ?" Alex asked.

"We can totally do that! Mom does the best writing in icing I've ever seen. It's swirly and pretty and nice." Laf complimented his mother.
"Great, and we've already got some balloons. Burr is coming over early so we can pump them and hang them, along with the streamers." Alex then clapped his hands together. "Break!" He shouted.
Nobody moved.

Alex frowned. "That means go." He whispered.
"Oh!" George picked up Anna and hurried to the door.
"Got it." Martha winked and walked with Alex to the kitchen where they would begin to cook and decorate.
Alex hurried over to the pump to begin to fill the balloons.

FIVE HOURS LATER

Alex hid behind the couch in the dark. Laf was crouched down next to him, and Eliza was on his other side.
James Madison lay across the couch, covered in a blanket. He had his face buried under a pillow. 
Eliza was standing behind the coat covered coat rack, completely hidden by George's trench coat.
Peggy and Angelica were squeezed behind a chair,they were trying not to fall over or make any noise.
Martha and George were pressed to the wall behind the door, so when it swung open to reveal Hercules they could give a thumbs up.

The door slowly creaked open and Hercules stepped into the dark room.

"SURPRISE!" Everyone chimed, and jumped out of their hiding spots. "Happy Birthday Hercules!" They yelled together. Martha flipped on the lights.

Hercules' face was priceless, tears of joy prickled his face and his smile was so much bigger than any of them had ever seen. "I thought you forgot!" He exclaimed.
"Never bro, we couldn't forget you! Or your birthday!" Charli giggled and gave him a big hug. He hugged back. When he pulled away his mouth was in a circle.

"Is that my dream cake and mini-hoops from Rent-A-Game? ! ? ! ?" He shouted and sprinted over to the cake.

"Would you like a piece?" Martha hurried over to the cake and lifted it up.
Hercules nodded eagerly. "Yes please!"