Chipping In

As the blood spilt across the floor and pooled at the hollow of my neck I felt relief wash through me, a cool balm to my recent pain and I knew it was the end, the end of the pain and suffering. The man took away the metallic instrument and as I took off my shades the bright light enveloped and blinded me.

I closed my eyes for a minute before I felt gentle plucking at my sleeve. "You can get up now, it's over. Are you okay, you look a little dizzy? There was an awful lot of blood but it's okay, we got it out in the end! No more appointments." The rotund dentist cheerily got up and waddled through the doorway, leaving me to stare at my half-rotten tooth in the basin next to me. I took the plastic cup and swilled water around my newly implanted fake tooth.

Spitting out the spoiled liquid I grinned through red teeth and walked out to the waiting room, paid up and left. It was in the cool evening light that I walked out, through the edge of the town and into the forest where my home was located. The sun dipped low in the sky, until I couldn't see it above the line of trees through which I trampled. All of a sudden in the middle of a clearing I was, for the second time today, engulfed by a stream of light. Bright and eerie it blotted out all but the dimmest shapes, and I shielded my eyes from the glare in order to better view these mysterious figures. The light was lowered and a strange voice called out "William! William we know it is you, you must come with us, teach us all you know." The light shut off and as I blinked away the spots which appeared behind my eyes I felt smooth, cold hands grip my arms and pulled me roughly forwards. Yelping through my dentist-numbed cheeks I attempted to protest but was steadily frogmarched onwards. At last we slowed down, the hands slid from mine and lights flashed red, orange and white!

"Oi man, you made it! We knew we'd find you out here, it's so close. We got a flat tire, we thought you could help given your engineering days." My friend Stanley, due a full hour later, had not only popped up early with extra company, but also asking for a friendly favour. The hands which gripped me belonged to my friend Pete and an artist called David, who I met last Christmas at Stan's party, and who stood next to me and waved his torch. I swatted the offending object and tried to sign my inability to talk and my disgruntled state of discontent. Clapping me on the back Stan smirked, "Cheers mate, we knew you'd turn up sooner or later. Happy birthday! We'll take the drinks back to yours, here are keys, we'll meet you there." Unable to argue through drug numbed lips I grasped him in horror as he laughed at me, shook himself free and dashed up the lane to my nearby home, his friends whooping and hooting behind him.

It took me the full hour I should have had at home to find the spare tire and change it in the near dark. Seriously miffed I swung into the car and turned on the ignition, praying with weary desperation that there would be fuel. Thankfully there was, and I swooped up the path in the smooth car. As I neared the house (all the lights on, ugh, why am I friends with these people?) I saw the car in the light for the first time. I had been fixing and driving a shiny red Jaguar without even realising it! The gorgeous car slid into my parking space with a satisfying purr from the engine and the crunch of (freshly changed) tires on gravel. Sitting for a moment awash with gratification and bemused awe at the car I was currently in I slowly composed my thoughts. The numbing drugs had finally begun to wear off and I prepared my speech before switching off the car, gently sliding out of the leather seats and closing the car door softly. I twisted on my heel and, fuming, walked towards the front door.

Opening the door I walked into the sitting room where I could hear my friends watching tv and began to rant about the inconvenience of imposing like this. But before I could get as far as "How very dare you" I trailed off. In the heartbeat of silence I looked around the room, full of faces, closing in on me. They all began to roar and grabbed at me, gripping me and groping at my shirt as I twisted this way and that. "HAAAAARGGH....."

"...PEEEE BIRRRTHDAY TO YOU! HAAAAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIIIIIRTHDAY DEAR WILLLLIAAAAM, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!"

Later that evening, when they had all left, I slow danced to Ella Fitzgerald in the middle of the room with my girlfriend's arms clasped around my neck. I was glowing, bubbling, exhausted but content, utterly elated and tipsy to boot! "Cassy, how did you... Find everyone? I haven't seen these guys in years, my best mates, how did you get them here?" I struggled to organise my disjointed thoughts and smiled blearily at her. "And the jag! You all chipped in for a freaking jag? I can't believe it!" Grinning like a fool I kissed her cheek sloppily, and she stared up at me, her brown hair and hazel green eyes shining in the lamp-lit pigsty of a party room. "Honey," she said, "for you, the world."