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You don’t realize it’s your birthday when the day comes. You’ve never celebrated your birthday before, not as a child (for obvious reasons) and not anytime while growing up. It isn’t like there’s ever been anyone in your life to wish you a happy birthday before…
The only people who even know which day your birthday is are whoever has seen your date of birth before. Which, apparently, includes Kamal. Of course, that makes sense because he used to work for you, but you’re still surprised when you open the door only to hear “SURPRISE!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” from 22 different voices.
“Happy Birthday,” Flower Kid signs, with a smile on their face. A big, toothy smile, like they know you like to see. You can’t help but to smile back.
“I do not know what to say… Well, welcome! Feel free to make yourself at-home!”
Kamal, carrying the box with the cake in it, steps in first, and then the rest of the former habiticians slowly make their way inside.
“I really didn’t expect any of you to be here, so sorry if the place is a little ‘messy’!” You’re usually good at keeping everything clean all the time, but may as well be polite.
“Hey, don’t worry, man!” Dallas pats you lightly on the back. “Trust me, this place is a whole lot cleaner than mine has ever been, and ever will.”
You chuckle sheepishly, before looking down at your feet and saying, “You know… Not to be a “party-pooper”, but none of you had to do this for me, really.”
“What do you mean? It’s your birthday! Why wouldn’t we?” Kamal sets down the cake, sighing. “It’s not like any of us have forgotten what you did, and to be fair, I and many others don’t exactly forgive you… BUT- Ah- you’ve changed, and we all can see it. Cmon, it’s been a year! We’re all friends now, aren’t we?”
“Still…” You twirl some of your hair around your finger. “Do I…really deserve this? I feel bad for being so “frowny” when everyone did all this for me and I should feel happy but… I’m just not sure.”
When you’re met with only silence and pitying stares, you continue. “I mean, you all are doing so much for me right now, but all I did was trap you in a place with plans to take your teeth…………” You shiver, thinking about your past self. “Sure, I’ve changed, but I still feel guilty?”
“Habit! Dude. That stuff was in the past!” Mirphy exclaims. “You’ve totally done more than enough to make up for it!”
“You really think so…?”
“OF COURSE!” Putunia punches your leg, which you assume must be her way of showing affection…? “YOU USED TO BE A MENACE…BUT YOU ARE NO LONGER ONE!!! YOU’VE CHANGED YOUR VILLAINOUS WAYS!”
Smiling, you respond, “Maybe you are ‘right’, little flower!”
“OF COURSE I’M RIGHT! I’M ALWAYS RIGHT!!! BECAUSE I’M - KAPOW! - A HERO!”
You open your mouth, about to respond, but someone nudges you from behind and hands you a sticky note with writing on it. Flower Kid.
The note reads, “kind of random question but is this the first time you’ve actually celebrated your bday?”.
Slightly embarrassed, you answer, “Y-Yes, actually. How could you ‘tell’???”
“I had a hunch,” they sign, before giving you a subtle wink.
“Also… How did you know it was my birth-day? You are the one who planned all this out right?”
“I asked Kamal.” They pause. “I asked multiple habiticians but Kamal was the only one who knew your birthday.”
“I sea… Well-”
Suddenly, you’re interrupted by Trevor practically throwing himself into your back with an “oof!” before regaining his composure again.
“HEY HEY!!!” he yells, shaking you. Or, trying to, considering the size difference. “CAN WE CUT THE CAKE NOW???”
“Oh! Of coarse!”
“Ooh yesss this is the best parrrt……” Jerafina chimes in, her words slurring even though she’s sober. Or is she?
Everyone gathers around the table where the cake is, as you take it out of its box and grab a knife.
“WAIT!” Kamal shoves a bunch of candles onto the table. “You’re turning 38, right? Obviously we can’t put that many candles on, BUT we can put a row of 3 and a row of 8 maybe? OR WE CAN JUST NOT PUT CANDLES I mean that’s fine too. It’d be kinda a waste seeing as I bought all these candles for you BUT YOU KNOW IT’S…up to you…”
“Ooh! We can do a row of ‘3’ and a row of ‘8’!”
You grab a bunch of candles and stick them on sloppily; a row of 3 and a row of 8, just like Kamal has suggested. It looks a little wonky, though that’s the last thing you could care about.
“Now does anyone have a lighter?” you ask.
“Hey, I’m pretty sure I brought one along-” Kamal checks his pockets, only to find there’s nothing in them. “TIM TAM???”
As if right on cue, Tim Tam appears behind him, just as he looks around. “Fire,” is all they say, before turning on the lighter, and suddenly half of the children are screaming.
“THAT THING’S GONNA BURN ME ALIVE!” Trevor screeches, before wrapping his arms around your left leg. “AAAHHH!”
“And yet you claim you’re an all powerful shapeshifting electric werewolf…” Nat mutters, clearly unimpressed.
“WHAT!” He lets go of your leg, and points a finger at Nat’s face, going, “I’LL HAVE YOU KNOW…that I am a super cool electric shapeshifting werewolf! AND ONE DAY YOU’LL ALL SEE AND YOU’LL COWER IN FEAR AND REGRET YOU EVER-”
“Yeah yeah. Whatever.” Nat rolls her eyes, and you aren’t sure whether this would be a good time to intervene or not.
“JUST YOU WAIT!!!”
Kamal taps your shoulder from behind so that you’ll direct your attention to him, and whisper-shouts, “I got the lighter back!”
He has a sort of nervous smile on his face, but most of his smiles look like that from what you’ve seen. Even so, you decide to ask, “Are you…alright, Kamal?”
“Oh I’m fine. Tim Tam’s just a tough kid is all.”
“Oh well I hope they are not giving you too much trouble! I try to tell them to stop stealing but…”
“They just don’t ever listen, do they.” Kamal facepalms, sighing, and gestures at the cake. “Well. Ready to light these bad boys up?”
“Oh yes! Everyone got distracted because of Tim Tam stealing the lighter…but this time we should be good!”
“Okay people!” Kamal shouts, to no one in particular. “Cake time!”
“CAKE TIME!!!” shouts Putunia, who runs around the room frantically. “I WANT THE BIGGEST PIECE YOU’VE GOT!”
“We’ll see about that…” Kamal mumbles.
---
Before you know it, about an hour has passed. Or two? Three? You’re not actually too sure, it’s all been a bit of a blur. A good blur though, a warm and soft blur. It’s so nice just having everyone around.
So many people care about you… It’s overwhelming to think about. It’s hard to believe. But it’s true.
You’re sitting on the corner of the couch and Parsley’s body is slumped against yours. He’s fast asleep, and you don’t have the heart to move him off, so you’re just hoping your arm won’t hurt too bad when he finally gets up.
Almost everyone has gone home by now. The only ones remaining are Parsley, who fell asleep, and his dad, who’s his ride home.
“It’s late.” Jimothan’s raspy voice suddenly speaking up surprises you. “I’d best not keep you up, huh?”
“It’s okay! I don’t mind.”
“Nah, don’t worry. Just hand him over.”
You gently shove Parsley off of your body without waking him, and Jimothan takes the reins from there. Carrying (almost dragging…) Parsley awkwardly, Jimothans chuckles and gives you a wave, before leaving.
And like that, you’re alone.
But…you don’t feel alone anymore. The warmth of everyone’s presences still linger.
Today… Today was good.
You are happy.