Living Without A Heart

Happy Birthday

Gladys and Hal were still sleeping when they entered the lodge. Alice felt bad about waking everyone up the night before.

"Why don't you get some rest?" Alice suggested.

"How about I make us a cup of coffee and we play some cards until the others wake up?"

"Sure- can you remember how I take it?"

"Oh, I think I might have an idea!" he laughed.

He handed her a steaming cup of coffee with frothy milk and two sugars and waited for the verdict.

"mmm... heaven!" she smiled licking her lips.

"Why thank you Smithy!"

"Come on Jonesy! I've got a game to win..." she said devilishly. 

"Oh your on!"

Alice shuffled the cards and dished them out. They played fifteen games of Black Jack and Alice won nine games, FP had won six...

"Ha! In-Your-Face!"

"I  call for a rematch! Best of 20!"

"What so I can mop the floor with you again?" she taunted.

"What's wrong? Scared I'll beat ya?" he returned.

"Oh, okay! If that's how you wanna play it- we'll go again!"

"Erm...hate to disturb you children but I'm rather hungry." Gladys muttered.

"Oh of course! I'll make it," FP vocalized.

"I can do it if you want? make up for last night..."

"No, no- besides I told you it wasn't your fault, you can't control your subconcious." FP comforted.

"You probably think I'm unhinged Gladys but I swear I'm not..." she whimpered ashamed.

"FP's right- as much as it pains me to admit you couldn't help it..." she affirmed reluctantly.

"Here you are ladies- Alice; pancakes with strawberries, chocolate sauce and some bacon. Gladys we've never had pancakes so I don't know what you have on it..."

"Erm just some fruit and butter with mine love." she was miffed that he remembered Alice's preference- they were only together a month and that was years ago.

"You make the best coffee and the best pancakes! thank you Jones," Alice hollered.

"Ugh! I hate pancakes!" Hal moaned, stalking out of the bedroom.

"Oh isn't it a shame..." FP jeered "Birthday girl is allowed her favourite food for her birthday breakfast- so get over it."

"Well she never has a "a birthday breakfast" at home."

"That's 'cause you suck all the fun out of everything."

Alice and Gladys both looked at each other with raised eyebrows.

"Just sit down and eat and say thank you or starve" Alice hissed.

In a huff he sat down beside Alice and FP sat opposite him. They all ate in awkward silence until they all finished.

"I'm gonna get dressed." Alice announced standing up from the table.

She was just about to put her bra on when the door opened. In one swift movement she grasped the blanket from the bed and covered herself up.

"Hal get out!" she screamed. FP and Gladys just saw one shoe fly out of the bedroom into the kitchen and assumed the other one hit Hal as he grunted in pain.