Spring fever isn’t just a need to get out and enjoy the sun. Sometimes it’s as simple as having an outlet, like a friend’s birthday that allows for tom foolery of all kinds. Today’s visit to the chaos den known as Soulful Nightclub is Nira’s birthday….

---

Nira’s Birthday

Thudding and banging announced that Bebe was coming. From where had been the question until she came rocketing out of the hallway, giggling like a child, her arms out like she was a plane flying about the room. 

“Party is starting!” Bebe was bouncing about, stopping to say hello to her friends as well, but the banging continued. She had her normal dark cargo pants and sneakers on, but her tank top was dark as well as damp.

Collar came in, followed by other named regulars. “Happy Birthday to Nira!” Collar headed for the bar.

Bebe heard Collar and stopped her attempts at torturing Remmy, bee lining for Collar jumping up and tackling the man before he knew what hit him. “Collar!”

Collar went down sputtering and trying to protect himself, to no avail. He didn’t have a chance, and in seconds, Bebe had moved his pants, getting herself a bit of his hip which she tagged with a sharpie. He was now marked “2”. She then laughed. 

“I missed you too Bebe. Hit the sugar early did we?” He twisted a bit to try and dislodge her to see what she had done, but since she wasn’t moving, he just asked. “What did you write on me?”

Bebe sat up on him, waving to another patron, before she answered “You were marked number two on my list.” Her eyes wandered around the club, checking if she missed anybody so far. Not finding anyone else at that moment, she got off Collar and went behind the bar to mix him a drink, followed by one for herself.

Remmy offered a hand to Collar. Collar took Remmy’s offer, looking him up and down curiously. “Are you tagged as number one on her list?” Remmy shook his head and stepped back, almost like he would get tagged if he stayed too close to Collar. They turned to Bebe, Collar accepting his shot while asking what everyone was wondering. “Who’s number one on your list then?”

The banging happened again, followed by a clang, and then Bebe was off and running, giggling again. Meanwhile, everyone else sat or stood still, closer to furniture so as not to get run over. In the front entrance doorway stood Malta and Frost held together by a length of rope, and they were followed moments later by Deej and his little group. They all stood inside the waiting area, since a running Bebe only meant something was running or would follow in a moment and you didn’t want to get caught up in that.

Nira gave chase once he was freed, though he did have a pipe cuffed to his wrist. He was also shirtless and had the number one written over and over on his chest, arms, and even his forehead. At least that’s what they all saw. He chased Bebe around the club twice, before managing to get her outside and catch her with a squeal. Then there was a splash, they had landed in the pool.

Tweety looked to Collar and Remmy, “Two guesses why he was cuffed to a pipe running from the bathroom hallway.” Remmy laughed, but Collar cursed. 

He downed the shot and shook his head. “Every year, every single year” He started muttering and heading for the pool, “I know I know, I’m on it.”

Tweety slipped behind the bar, about the same time that Frost and Malta sat, while Deej worked on settling himself and his lady at the end of the bar. Even Rodger stayed against the wall and out of the way. “Welcome everyone, I hope you are all well.” 

She giggled as Collar came back through the bar, pipe in hand, muttering about how he just slept and watched TV on his birthday. “Um, enjoy the party?” She caught the state of Frost and Malta, and leaned on the bar top near them. “Care to share?” She indicated the link between their hands.

Malta blushed, and then just laughed, holding up her wrist which tugged at Frost’s. “He thinks I can’t get in trouble if I’m attached to him!” Frost pulled at her hand, his own going to smack her on her rump. That sent her into a fit of giggles, and had the two of them swatting at each other. 

Tweety smiled, sipping on her soda watching the little lady and the large man poke at each other like children. Remmy had slipped behind the bar as well, moving down to Deej and his group, serving them and telling his cat war stories. “Tried to eat a tire” drifted to her and she laughed, this was what cured everything unpleasant. She looked out over the bar, watching some of the tables observe the goings on between Malta and Bebe, trying to decide which was more interesting, while other regulars’ tables simply started their own versions, telling their own tales.

“Oh come on! How do you break a sink?!” Collar’s voice carried, along with the clanks that made one think he was fixing things. “I don’t even want to know.”

Nira merely waved his cuffed hand, the empty cuff dangling about, “lo.” He was wet too, but not as bad, he had learned to invest in quick dry clothing. He moved behind the bar, finding one of his hats under it. He had no problems being shirtless and covered in permanent marker 1’s, but he would not go around without a hat or a smoke. He felt up the hat and found his pipe, lighting it and puffing off it while talking out the other side of his mouth.

He picked up a glass and started to dry it, like this was just a normal day to him.