the non-birthday
a really short story
by rebecca sorens
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2012 Rebecca Sorens
cover
also by Rebecca Sorens
If you like this story you can have it for free. Good comments are appreciated on my Smashwords profile page or blog at http://rebeccasorens.blogspot.com .
Look for “cozy mystery” chick sleuth novel coming on Smashwords soon.
SHORT SHORT STORY
Non-Happy Birthday
by rebecca sorens
James lives with Thomas the Cat in a semi-dark room. Shutters on the windows keep the bursting Fall colors outside. The plugged in hot water pot keeps James going with coffee and ichi-ban soup.
I wouldn’t know it was her birthday if you hadn’t made the calendar pop up by walking on my keyboard.
Must be fate, or the stars or karma, cat karma, telling me to wish her happy birthday.
And how would I do that? Send an e-card, or text her, or call her and leave a voice message. What if she answers the phone? Then I’ll have to talk to her.
James’ hair falls into his face as he gives liverwurst to Thomas the Cat. The cat tells him that women are fickle and he is a fool. Doesn’t he know that it’s not a guy thing to think about a girl, woman. Especially one who probably doesn’t want to see him.
James tells Thomas the Cat to shut up and mind his own business. She would just ignore the message anyway.
What if she didn’t? Any and every possible thing that could go wrong is lots more important than texting this person who isn’t in his life anymore and waiting to see if she would respond, or not. He could wonder for days, weeks, or years if she was going to answer him.
There are lots of worse things, just as likely. His computer could crash and die. His cat could run away and live with his neighbor, who he hates. Both his parents and their new wife-slash-husband could come to visit.
OR He could contact Caroline and she would write back and say he’s a nerd and boring and she doesn’t like him or need him texting her. Thank you very much, please delete me from all your address books.
James sees his one plant, a cactus, that he’s had for years. He considers watering it. When he leaves it alone for a month or two it doesn’t die. When he waters it, it grows in some morphing way. He stares at the brown rim around where it’s taken off in another direction, bulbous and stickly. Once it bloomed. A whole rim of red flowers.
He calls her on the phone. Hi. This is James. Just wanted to say Happy Birthday.
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