Birthday Party

Freddie woke when Jamie called his name.  He looked up from the couch to see her looking slightly annoyed.   “You were out.”  She commented.  “Was just about ready to start shaking you.” 

“Mm…Sorry,” he managed, rubbing his nose.  “Was I snoring?”  He asked? 

“I didn’t notice.  Had the music on.   You slept through my cooking dance party.” She pouted. 

“Awww…I hate missing that.”  He laughed, pulling her in for a kiss.   “What’d you need?” 

“Booze run?  I’m assuming you all want to drink tonight, and I wouldn’t even know what to get anymore.” 

He laughed.  “You’d get lost in the flavored vodka again.”  Scrubbing his nose again, he found his keys and headed out. 

He just got in his car when the sneezing started.  “HuhhChushh, uhhchusshh.”   He grabbed a tissue from the box on the floor and blew his nose.   There was no more denying it.   He had slept like the dead last night and woken up fuzzy headed.  He’d managed to hide most of the sneezing from Jamie this morning, but he had a feeling, with his birthday dinner tonight, that wasn’t going to last. 

He picked up the alcohol, and headed back, taking opportunity of his time in the garage before he went in to sneeze freely, hoping to get it out of his system.    He set the bottles on the table and headed upstairs to shower.   He popped 2 dayquil; it wasn’t quite time, but he figured this way, it would be working when the previous dose quit and went downstairs to help Jamie with the finishing touches.   

He was setting up makeshift bar when he couldn’t hold back the sneezes any longer.   “Ehhchushh, Chushhh.” 

“Bless you.” Jamie told him, and boy, did she sound suspicious with that. 

“Dusty over here.”  He had been cleaning and bringing extra chairs out of the laundry room as well as the card table for the alcohol and food. 

She nodded, but her eyes still gave him a narrowed look, and he swallowed against the tickle in his throat.   Not the time to start coughing.   Fortunately, he was saved by the doorbell. 

“I’ll get it…I know you want the table just so.”  He all but sprinted to the door, glad to get out of her sight.   He pulled open the door to see 4 of his friends standing there.  “Come on in.”  He ushered them in to the foyer.    

“Sam and Ella can’t make it.   Sam’s got a bad cold, and Ella thinks she’s starting to get it.   Anyway, neither of them wanted to give that to you for your birthday.”  Tim said, moving closer to Ethan…the first time they’d done something as a couple with the whole group.    

Freddie swallowed hard.  If Sam and Ella only knew…. 

He led them to the living room where Jamie had set up the food.   “Drinks?”  He offered, getting ready to, at least,  initially play bartender.     

“I’ll get them, man.   It’s your birthday, relax.”  Alex was already handing out Diet Cokes to Jamie and Tim, pouring wine for Alyssa.  He finished fulfilling the drink orders, having only to ask Ethan what he wanted. 

Freddie relaxed into the couch. Despite his head feeling like it was stuffed with cotton, he was enjoying the night.  He made conversation with his friends, but was content to watch.   He watched Tim’s hand, possessively on Ethan’s knee, claiming him.  He listened as Jamie Alex and Ethan commiserated over how bad spring allergies had been so far this year.   Watched as, typically, Alex started his third beer, and started sneezing while Alyssa made fun of him…”I told you not to have the third…at least space them out more…”. He even felt relaxed enough, especially after his first beer to let out a few scattered singles. 

It took awhile, but the sneezes completely overpowered the DayQuil at last, and he couldn’t hold them back anymore.  “HuhChushh.”   Knowing there were more, he excused himself to the bathroom.  “HuhhChushh.”  He sneezed halfway down the hall before locking himself in the small room.   “UhhChuhshoo, Chushhh, HuhhChushh, heyChushh, Chushh, Chushoo!”  He gave his nose several strong blows on the toilet paper, washed his hands and exited, bumping into Ethan who was waiting in the hall. 

He felt Ethan look at him suspiciously.   “You’re getting a pretty good cold.” He commented. 

Freddie started at him.  What…how did this guy he had barely met know?  He asked him as much, looking down at the floor and sniffling lightly. 

“I’m a nurse…well,  nurse educator now, but I did my time in the floor.” 

Freddie looked at him.  “Jamie was a nurse.   Explains why you’re giving me her look now.” 

Ethan chuckled.  “They teach that in school.   Anyway, you look tired, your nose is starting to turn red at the edges, eyes are a bit dull, you’ve been rubbing at your head – you’ve got a headache.  You sound congested…just a little bit, but occasionally it’s noticeable.   Little bit of a hoarse cough, sounds like your throat is starting to get sore.  And your sneezing is picking up frequency, but Tim says a) you don’t have allergies other than cats, and b) it sounds like Jamie’s done her best to allergy proof this place.  And from what I’ve heard, you’re usually more talkative, so, you’re getting a cold.” 

Freddie started at him for a second.   This was his level of scrutiny, and he didn’t appreciate being under it.   He nodded.   “Since this morning.  Pretty sure Jamie’s figured it out by now.” 

Ethan nodded.  “I think we all have.” He said gently, as Freddie yawned.    “Don’t worry, I think we’re planning on making it an early night for you.” 

“HuhhChushhh.  Thanks.”    Freddie headed down the hallway and back to the party, Ethan returning moments later.     

Knowing everyone knew, Freddie was able to further relax with his drink.  No longer needing to hide, he sat over by Jamie and her ever present box of tissues.   He still didn’t jump into conversations like he normally would, but he was more than content to watch everything unfold around him.   He watched Tim and Jamie discuss plans for Sunday mass, Ethan and Alyssa discussing methods of teaching.   He slid closer to Alex, still on his third beer, still sneezing.    

“Happy birthday, man.  HehhChhh, Chhh.”  Alex stifled a quick double into his arm and sniffled, wiping his nose with a crumpled tissue.  

“Bless you.”  Freddie said, standing up. 

“Running away again?” 

“HuhhChushh.  Thought I’d grab Kleenex for this end of the room.” 

“Ohhh…that’s probably a good idea.”  Freddie ducked into the laundry room and returned with a fresh box of tissues, setting them between him and Alex.  Alex took a fresh tissue from the box and blew his nose; Freddie followed his lead and did the same.   “So, you got Sam’s cold.” 

“I think so.   Tell her thanks.”  Freddie yawned, curling up in the chair.  

“Tired?”    

“Starting to get there.  HuhhChusshhoo.” 

“Bless you.  You think you got another hour in you?” 

Freddie nodded, blowing his nose as Alex got up for another beer. 

“Not sneezing enough?” Freddie teased. 

“Takes the focus off of you.” Alex poked back as they heard Jamie sneezing from across the room. 

“Her Benadryl must be wearing off.  She didn’t want to be sneezing all night.” 

“Looks like you filled that void.” Alex pointed out as an unfamiliar “Hatshoo” cut in.   They heard Ethan apologize, and Jamie laughing, telling him Tim and Alyssa would probably be the only two not sneezing tonight, and Tim verifying that.    

Alex sat there a minute, sipping his beer.   He noticed Freddie’s empty can.  “You need another one.” 

Freddie shook his head.  “NyQuil calling.” He admitted, as Tim and Ethan came over to them.  

“Haven’t spent much time with the birthday boy tonight.”  Tim plopped down on the floor next to him, while Ethan took the end of the couch.    “I’ll tell Sam you appreciated her gift.” 

Freddie blew his nose, shoving the tissue with the others in his pocket.   “Yeah.”  He mumbled as Ethan sneezed again.    

“Hatshoo.” He grabbed a tissue from the box and blew his nose.  “Excuse me.  Allergy pill is starting to wear off.”  He explained. 

Alex turned his head to the side, stifling again into his shoulder.  “HuhChh, uhhChhh.  Don’t worry about it.  You’re in the sneezy corner now.”    

Ethan laughed.  “Bless you.  Allergies?” 

Alex nodded.  “That and any time I go past the second beer, I start sneezing.”   

“Not uncommon.” Ethan commented.  “And Freddie’s got his cold.” 

“If you want to bring a bird in here, I could join in.” Tim teased. 

“Please no.”  Freddie started laughing at the look of horror on Alex’s face.   

“Alex is incredibly…” he pressed his hand against his nose and finished. “Allergic.  UhChushh, Chushh, huhChushoo.” He explained to Ethan. “Tim’s not as bad.”  More nose blowing.  More tissues to the pocket.  Another huge yawn.   

Tim looked at his watch.  “9:45.  What do you say we toast the birthday boy and send him to bed?” 

Freddie nodded, shooting Tim a grateful look. 

Alex got up to man the makeshift bar again and got everyone’s attention.   “We’re going to send our sick birthday boy to bed now.”  He started handing out the scotch and the two diet cokes.  They wished Freddie a happy birthday, and then Alex and Tim all but chased him off to bed, not that he needed convincing, promising him they would help Jamie clean up. 

Jamie came upstairs an hour later.  “Thank you for everything.” He told her, drowsily as she changed into pajamas.    

“You’re welcome.”  She gently kissed his forehead.  “I just wish you would have told me you were sick.   We could have rescheduled.” 

“You already had everything in the works.” He protested and sneezed again.   “HuhhChusshh.” 

“Bless you.  Get some rest.  I’ll give you your present when you feel a little better.” She said, snuggling up against him.