“Please…”

“Please…”

“...”

“YES! YES!”

Billy cheers and raises his fists into the air as he backs off from the wall. He admires the pencil markings for his height from over the years. Billy is proud of his very special size. How tall is he? Big, that’s what! Can’t measure that in feet and inches.

Billy. Age 10. Today is his very special birthday. But what good is a very special birthday without a very special…

“KATHY! KATHY!” Billy leaves his room in a hurry. In the hall, he turns to Exam Room 10.4-B. “Hi, Mr. Wilson!”

“I’ll be darned. It’s the birthday boy! Already 11 years old, eh?” The wiry mustached, and wrinkly-faced Dr. Albert Wilson dips a glowing vial into a liquid.

“Awww, you know I’m 10!” Billy pouts.

“It’ll be 11 before ya know it!” Dr. Wilson jokes as the liquid lets out an evaporating smoke. He holds up the now frozen vial. “I heard your girlfriend is looking for you!”

“Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, she’s NOT my girlfriend!” Billy blushes and kicks at the ground.

Dr. Wilson raises his spectacles. “Your secret is safe with me!” He winks. “She’s in the garden, kiddo.”

Billy grins from ear to ear. “Gosh! Thanks, Mr. Wilson!” He waves goodbye and continues his journey through the halls.

“Hello, Billy!”

“Hiya Sport!”

“Look at you! Look at YOU!”

“Did you get my present?”

“The years are flying by!”

“You haven’t had your cake yet? Shame on you!”

“Save some for me!”

“And me!”

Billy meets and greets all of his friends and neighbors. It’s all about Billy around here. He feels like a celebrity every day. Chit-chat, games, awesome food, awesome people! What’s not for a very special boy like Billy to love? This amount of love and attention always rains upon him, and he never grows tired of it and licks up every last drop. What’s funny is that they all wear pretty long white coats too, just like Kat-

*BONK* Papers fly everywhere as a neighbor falls to the floor.

Uh oh. Billy had bumped into…

“Geez, moron, watch where you’re goin!” A blonde woman with pale blue eyes, a big goofy cast on her right arm, and big goofy glasses winces and turns to face-

“OH! Sorry…Hi Billy! Clumsy me.” Debbie picks up scattered paper across the floor and haphazardly organizes it into a clipboard. That’s all she is, just Debbie.

Billy rubs his aching head. “Clumsy you indeed! Didn’t see ya, Debbie!”

“Say! Do you know what today is?” He smiles.

“Oh…I dunno…September 19th…” Debbie adjusts her goofy glasses.

Billy pouts. “It’s MY birthday!”

“Oh…I guess you’re right…” Debbie is busy sporadically thumbing through every page of the documents. Her face goes pale…

“Hey! What’s this? Something ’bout…what does this word mean?” Billy cocks his head while attempting to read a piece of paper he snatched for himself.

“GIVE ME THAT!” Debbie’s voice cracks as she yanks it out of Billy’s grasp. She huffs with haggard breath, her wrist shaking.

Billy’s eyes plead. “...Gosh…sorry, Debbie…” His eyes start to water.

‘NO! NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! Not again…’ A bead of sweat rolls down Debbie’s cheek. She playfully elbows him. “I didn’t mean to get cross with ya! It’s just one of those days!”

Billy sniffles.

Debbie wags her finger. “And these are top s-e-c-r-e-t.”

“Ohhhhh! Gosh, I forgot!” Billy calms down in a snap.

He knows that some things are top secret around here! That’s just how it is! He knows that not even a celebrity gets to see everything or go everywhere. But that’s how Billy wants it anyway. He doesn’t need to act like a mean ol’ king for his friends and neighbors. Besides, Billy feels like he already has a princess.

Billy jogs in place. “Anyways, gotta go! I gotta find Kathy! Buh-bye!” He takes off.

Debbie flutters her fingers at him. “Buh-bye~❤️”

‘...you repulsive FUCKING FREAK…’ She walks away after he’s gone.

…

…