This had all the earmarks of a very bad dream. He looked down to make sure he was dressed. If he was naked, it would be a dream; if he was clothed, it would be worse. Thirty or so of his nearest and dearest friends crowded into Jessica’s small backyard. He saw Jack with Kate and Bobbie and Lew and Dan. They all started singing Happy Birthday to You. Jessica watched him with uncertain hope all over her sweet face. A birthday party. Somehow she’d found out his birthday was Thursday and arranged a party for him. Jessica couldn’t have any idea how much he hated parties, especially parties in his honor. Scanning the crowd, he found Bobbie in the back corner. She was wearing a pleased smirk until his eyes met hers. At least he knew now how Jessica knew when his birthday was. He forced a smile. “Thanks, everybody,” he said when the singing stopped. “Come on down before the beer gets cold,” someone shouted. Kevin had been too busy staring daggers at Bobbie to register who. “There is plenty of cold beer, too,”
