Birthday

Hatter never gave birthdays a second thought before coming to live in the Oyster world. Wonderland simply didn't celebrate them. There was no point really, who cared that you were born? Everyone came into the world the same way, it was really nothing special.

So when a few weeks into his stay in Alice's world, she told him they would be going to a birthday party for her friend Jenny, Hatter had laughed. Of course Oysters would make a big deal out of nothing. Alice thought it was just as strange that Wonderland didn't have birthdays.

She had tried to argue with him on why a birthday was important. "Hatter, the whole point of birthdays is to show that person that you are happy they were born."

"No Alice, I've been here long enough to know that you oysters would celebrate the sun rising if it meant giving each other gifts and the opportunity to get liquored up." Finally she gave up and asked him to go with and play along just for her sake.

Of course if it was important to her he had no problem going. They had met with about fifteen other people for dinner and drinks. Afterwards Jenny's boyfriend had the waiter bring out a large cake with candles stuck in it. Another silly oyster custom of singing happy birthday and blowing out candles.

Alice explained to him latter that night that when you blew out the candles you are supposed to make a birthday wish.

When they had gone home that night Hatter told Alice exactly what he thought of birthdays. "It's brilliant love, whoever came up with this was a genius." Birthdays, he told her, were simply a wonderful way for businesses to turn a profit. He chalked it up to what he called the Hallmark scam.

Just another excuse to spend money.

Alice was just a bit too tipsy to fight with him. In the end she took the high road and informed him that he was just jealous he hadn't thought of it back in wonderland. This of course led to Hatter's favorite form of retaliation involving lots of kissing and very little clothing.

That had been the end of the argument. Alice had told him she didn't care if he thought birthdays were just one big scam. As long as he was willing to suffer through them with her she would be happy. In the months that followed they celebrated three other holidays and attended two more birthday parties.

He had stopped pointing out the flaws of each holiday, as it ended up being more to his favor to play along and make Alice happy.

One day after having dinner at her mothers, Carol brought out a small chocolate cake with a single candle. "Happy birthday honey!"

"Thanks mom" she said blowing out her candle.

Hatter watched as she plucked the candle from the cake licking the frosting from the bottom before cutting a slice of cake and passing it to him. He watched as Alice cut a two more slices. Carol told him that this cake was from Alice's favorite bakery. "It's a family tradition." she said. "Every year I drive across town just for this cake."

"I always look forward to it." said Alice as she took a large bite of her cake. Looking for all the world like it was the best food she'd ever had.

Hatter remained silent for most of the night while Alice and her mother talked amongst themselves. Why hadn't Alice told him it was her birthday? This was different than the other birthdays he had seen celebrated. There were no decorations, no cards, no singing, no gathering of friends forcing brightly wrapped gifts in her lap. It was just the three of them and Alice seemed very happy with her little chocolate cake. So why did he feel so bad?

That night he asked her why she hadn't told him about her birthday.

Alice just shrugged. "You don't like birthdays so why does it matter?"

"Because its your birthday!" He said looking down at her. "We should have had a big party for you. I could have at least gotten you a gift."

"Hatter." she said. "I'm not going to make you take part in the Hallmark scam. As much as I don't like to admit it, you were right. All that fuss is pretty meaningless. I had a much better time with just you and mom than I would have had at any party." She leaned up and kissed him. "Besides, that fact that you care means more than any gift you could have gotten me."

"But Alice..." He called after her as she made her way to the bedroom.

She turned around and smiled at him. "Hatter stop worrying about it. Its just a birthday, it's not important." She turned around and disappeared into the bedroom.

But it was important and suddenly he had a new appreciation for birthdays. She had been right all along. Birthdays were for celebrating the day of a person's birth, for showing that you were grateful for them being born. There was no one he was more grateful for than Alice.

Hatter went to the bedroom to find Alice already dressed in pajamas. She was sitting on the edge of the bed brushing her hair and putting it into a pony tail. He walked over to her and took the brush from her hands. He pushed her down into the bed and leaned forward over her. His lips met hers in a searing kiss he hoped expressed what he was feeling.

He broke away from her just long enough to look into her eyes. "Happy birthday Alice."