The Birthday

They sat together in the darkness. They watched the boy bathed in candle light, eyes wide, as his loved ones sang him the birthday song.

Somebody behind them coughed loudly and it took John out of the movie. Nancy was still transfixed, staring intently at the birthday party being projected on the dark screen in front of them.

Eventually the film was over and they began their long walk home.

"I know it's kind of silly but that whole birthday thing in the movie kind of put me in the mood to have a birthday. Isn't that weird?"

John laughed and said, "No, it makes sense. They made it look so fun".

They held hands and they started over the bridge. As they stood still for a moment and looked at the moon's reflection in the bay John had an idea.

"Let's have a birthday tonight"

"What?"

"Let's stop at the store and buy some cake mix and frosting and candles and balloons and have a birthday party for you in our apartment. We can invite Mr. Henderson from upstairs, he doesn't know what year it is let alone that it isn't your real birthday"

Nancy smiled and said "that's silly".

But as the walk home continued it began to sound better and better to them.

"Oh, fuck it. Let's do it. I really want to eat some cake".