Jimmy the Birthday Boi

🤔 Chapter 3

Jimmy was so happy. Today was a good day — a special day. Today was his birthday. Being the birthday boi meant he could do anything. Mostly, it meant he could have a shower and sit with the adults. To Jimmy, that was a lot. Hungry, he left the bedroom and walked down the stairs.

— "Hey kid."

Startled by his father, Jimmy froze.

— "It's your birthday."

Not waiting for a response, his father left the room. After a short pause, ensuring his dad was gone, Jimmy carefully walked down the rest of the steps, then tiptoed to the kitchen.

— "H'oppy borthdey child."

Aunt Mary was attempting cooking. It smelled...it smelled.

— "Thank you Aunt Mary."

— "Om cookin s...s...sum foyd, cuz whu's ganne du enythen in thos h...h.......ho—", she sneezed on the food. "Ow FOCK! I dun fock dat shit fud sick! Oy dunt care yoll eet et or die if I dun not cokin no more f...f...FUD!! SHIT!!!!"

Jimmy didn't wait until she finished to leave the room. He was used to it — she had always been like that, ever since he'd known her. Leary'Ma said she started acting funny after the...the...

Feeling oppressed by the general air around the house, Jimmy headed towards the garden to catch some fresh air.

— "Liiittle Jiiimmyyy booii. Cooome to loook at the plaaaants?"

Jimmy almost let out a shout of surprise. Of course. Leary'Ma spent most of her days in the garden, how could he have forgotten? Maybe because he never quite understood what she did there. The garden was just a sight for sore eyes. Dead plants, dead soil, and thick tall grass hiding whatever was on the other side. He once asked Aunt Mary about it, and regretted it the second she looked at him. When he asked Leary'Ma about it, she told him the garden used to...it used to...I don't remember.

— "Ma, why do you watch those dead plants all day?"

Her face saddened.

— "I loooost soomething on the oooother siiiide a looong time agooo. But I'm tooo oooold to croooss the graaaass."

— "I could go and get it for you!", he said while puffing his chest.

— "Thaaaat wouuld be loooovely..."

The tone in that last sentence troubled him for a second, but his attention quickly shifted to the tall grass. It was...uninviting, to say the least. Jimmy did not like it. He could actually get hurt in there. However...grandma was the only person to be kind to him in the house. Noticing the fear creeping in, he closed his eyes. He had been taught what to do. Count to 10. Breathe. Take the moment in. Let the fear take you. Let it realize it was mistaken. Let it fade away. Jimmy knew the fear would come back afterwards. He was only buying some time. But that time was precious. It was progress. An opportunity. He opened his eyes and pierced into the thick wall of grass.

It was hard to get through. The grass was coarse, unpleasant to the touch, and felt like it was pushing him away. But for the moment, he was not afraid. He moved forward, slowly but surely. His confidence grew even bigger. He was going to make it. He—heard a squish sound.

Jimmy looked under his shoe. Uh oh. He looked around him. He hadn't noticed. He, he hadn't noticed.

— "Bugs!"

Terrified, Jimmy ran as fast as he could. He ran and ran and ran, until finally, he had reached the other side. Surprised by the sudden empty space in front of him, he tripped and fell. Luckily, he had just enough time to put his arms forward. This will bruise. Oh well. He stopped for a while to catch his breath and check for any intruders in his clothing. Looked like it was safe. Phew.

His composure regained, he looked around him. He saw what seemed to maybe have been what looks like a table possibly, and its accompanying maybe-chair. The metal was too worn out and bent to be sure.

Behind it, a half collapsed shed. That's probably where Ma lost her thing. Jimmy looked through as much as the debris as he could, considering the spiders roaming around. Unfortunately, he didn't find anything. Only ashes and dust.

Walking out of the shed, he saw a grey shape in the distance. What...he walked towards the shape. No...it...what? It's a grave. Jimmy looked at the grave I, I don't really remember. No, this must be wrong. No, no, no. There was no grave. Right?