Entering the apartment, JC sat his bag of groceries on the table in the small kitchen and quickly put away that week’s food, before digging out a small cupcake and a birthday candle from the very last bag.
Sticking the candle in the cupcake, he quickly lit it before he started singing.
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday Josh, happy birthday to you,” he quietly sang trying to keep the tears from rolling down his face. He hated his birthday. He couldn’t remember the last time someone remembered his birthday. Not even the two years he and Todd were together did Todd ever remember, despite the fact that JC left reminders lying around their apartment for days and always remembered Todd’s birthday.
Sighing, JC quickly blew out the candle and ate the cupcake before cleaning up so that he could get ready for that night’s work. But first he picked up the new installed phone and dialed a familiar number.
“Hello?” came the familiar feminine voice on the other end.
“Heather?” asked JC breaking out into a bright smile. For the past six years, JC had been secretly in contact with his younger sister, calling her every so often. He had to watch how many times he called though in case their parents found out.
“Josh!” cried Heather happily. “Where have you been?!? I’ve been trying to contact you all week!”
“I moved to Orlando two weeks ago,” JC informed his sister. “The phone was only installed a few days ago. What’s wrong?”
“Mom and Dad found out!” wailed Heather. “I think Tyler tipped them off! They cut off my tuition and rent money! I’ve had to take on two part time jobs just to get me through the week! If something doesn’t happen, I’m going to have to drop out of school!”
“Calm down Heather,” replied JC gently, cursing himself for not only screwing up his life, but also now his sister’s. “I have a job and will send you money. I’ll also sell my car. Just don’t panic, I’ll think of something!”
“Josh, don’t,” begged Heather. “I know you can barely support yourself as it is.”
“You’re my sister,” replied JC. “Please let me help you! Where I’m stay is rent free and I’ll find someway to get more money I promise you!”
“Okay Josh,” sniffed Heather. “I love you and Happy Birthday.”
“Thanks. I better go get ready for work now. I’ll call you later, just try not to worry about it, okay?”
“Okay,” replied Heather before hanging up the phone.
Sighing, JC made a note to remind himself to ask Chris if he could take on more hours tonight and also ask him if he knew any place where JC could sell his car.
*~*~*
“Why do you want to sell your car?” asked Chris that night as they closed up the bar together. Ever since JC started working there it became routine for him to help Chris close up since he lived right above the bar.
“It was the plan all alone,” JC lied. “Buy a car to get me somewhere away from Atlanta so I would have to hitchhike again and then sell it whenever I got where I was going.”
“My landlord, Howie, has a friend, who I think is somehow in the car business,” informed Chris. “I’ve only met AJ once or twice though since the guy is bad news, I don’t know why Howie is friends with him. Anyways if you want I’ll talk to Howie and get AJ’s number for you?”
“Thanks Chris,” smiled JC. “I was also wondering if it was possible for me to work some more hours?”
“Are you sure everything is okay money wise?” asked Chris as he stared worriedly at JC. “I mean first you want to sell your car and now you want more hours.”
“No!” answered JC quickly. “I, umm . . . just have a lot of free time on my hands and figured I could spend that free time working.”
“Umm . . .okay,” replied Chris, not quite believing his friend but not wanting to push the subject. If JC wanted him to know he would tell Chris. “But I can’t afford to give you more hours right now. We’re losing customers right, left and center to Fat-One’s just down the street. I went down there yesterday, to check the place out and Fatone has some kid in there, singing every night which people just flock to. Until I can think of a way to get those people to come back here, I’m going to have to cut down the costs.”
“Okay,” nodded JC sadly, trying to hide his disappointment. If he didn’t have to find a second job he would of offered to sing at Kirkpatrick’s for free since Chris has been nothing but nice to him since he arrived. He was a good singer too, having studied for years and was even planning on studying music in college, but those plans had quickly fallen through when his parents kicked him out. Since then JC had kept up singing by performing street acts whenever he needed extra cash.
“What’s wrong C?” asked Chris. “You’ve seemed down all night.”
“It’s nothing,” reassured JC, forcing a smile. “I always get depressed on my birthday.”
“It’s your birthday?! Why didn’t you say something?!”
“I don’t know,” shrugged JC. “No one ever cared before, so I never thought about it.”
“But you use to have a boyfriend!”
“He didn’t care,” sighed JC. “He would always forget it.”
“It’s only 2am, we could go to a club for an hour or so,” suggested Chris. “Or find a bar that’s open later, or just go back to my place and chill while we watch movies.”
“No thanks Chris,” replied JC forcing a smile. “I just want to go upstairs and get some sleep.”
“But it’s your birthday!” protested Chris.
“No it’s not, it’s already the 9th. I really just want to go and get some sleep Chris,” replied JC as he started walking towards the door.
“You know, if you ever need anything, I’m here for you!” Chris called after him.
“You’ve already done so much,” replied JC, pausing at the door so he could turn around and give his friend a genuine smile.