Three “Happy Birthday!” Sally came bursting into the office with a huge bunch of flowers in her arms. May 1, another of those days that I wished never existed. In my estimation, 365 days came around far too soon, and I really hated how people seemed to think that because it was the day of one’s birth, it should be celebrated and acknowledged. I didn’t, so why should anyone else? It wasn’t as hard a day as some others, but the sooner people realized that I didn’t want the attention, the better. “Sally.” She must have realized from my tone that something was up, because her head popped out from behind the bunch of flowers to peer at me where I sat at my desk. “Sorry.” She stammered in embarrassment, then turned tail and dumped the flowers in Ashlan’s arms when he came out of the office to investigate Sally’s boisterous arrival. “Happy Birthday, Ash,” she chirped happily. Ash looked totally confused. “But it’s not my birthday,” he said, as he juggled the mass of blooming roses.
