Gift from Yoba (Shane x Farmer Fic)

Five: Spring Chicken

I couldn't remember the last time my head pounded this hard. As soon as it came to me, I shot up from my bed, making a beeline for the washroom. It was a miracle nobody was awake yet.

I emptied all of last night's snacking into the toilet bowl, trying to keep quiet as I dry heaved a couple of times. When it subsided I closed the lid, flushed and hobbled to the sink in front of the mirror.

Yoba, I was wrecked. For someone who drank their weight in beer every evening I was tossing and turning almost every night. I'd never seen the bags under my eyes so heavy. I really needed coffee. Coffee and a shower.

I pulled everything off, as sluggish as I was, and forced myself into the shower. It took a good ten minutes just standing in the warm water before I actually started to move, pulling out soap and shampoo and waiting for another ten minutes until I rinsed off. I felt bad for Marnie's water bill, but taking care of myself and my basic hygiene was so much harder than it should've been . . . I'd offer to help pay for it this month.

I didn't even bother to shave, I just wrapped a towel around my waist and walked out, heading for my bedroom. "Good morning, Shane!"

I jumped, backing up into the washroom again and hiding behind the door. "M-morning, Marnie."

I didn't hear any noise in the kitchen from inside the washroom. I guessed it was later than I thought, watching Jas colour at the dining table still in her pyjamas. Marnie was at the stove, mixing batter with a handheld whisk, "Jas and I have a surprise for you! So go change and come out when you're ready."

"Surprise?" I took a moment to think, "Why?" Last I heard I hadn't been promoted recently.

"For your birthday, silly!" Jas giggled, as if I were, in fact, just being silly.

Was it really my birthday? I left for my room, staring at the calendar I'd forgotten to update the last few months. Yes, it was a Saturday, but I didn't realize Summer was right around the corner. "Huh." I had to start thinking about Jas' birthday present.

I reached for my deodorant and comb and stared at my everyday clothes on the floor, used and dirty. I wasn't sure taking a shower would be all that worth it if I just put on the same clothes as before, so I rummaged through my drawers. A raggedy old band t-shirt would do; it's not like I'd be seeing anybody today. I slipped it on and a pair of cargo shorts and stepped into the kitchen. "Is it really the twentieth?"

Marnie rolled her eyes at me, "Yes, Shane." She turned around, flipping over two little pancakes with her spatula. "How do you forget your own birthday?"

I shrugged. The days started blending together since back in Zuzu, but I wasn't going to tell her that. "What's the big surprise?"

"Ooh!" Jas flipped over the folded piece of paper she was colouring on, handing it over. "Happy birthday, Uncle Shane!"

I walked forward, taking it from her tiny hand and pulling out the dining chair beside her. I sat down as I read the front . . . I wasn't expecting to smile so much that day.

There were sloppily drawn olives with stick hands and feet, one with a brunette braid, one with spiky purple hair, and the other with a green bow. I opened it up and read the neater print on the inside,

"I'm very happy to have you here, Shane. You work harder than you give yourself credit for, I couldn't have asked for a better nephew. Irvin and Charlotte would be proud. Happy 29th birthday, and many more! With love, Marnie."

        Then the messier hand-writing below,

        "Olive you, uncle Shane!!" I counted at least nine heart stickers before I continued, "Thank you for playing dolls and jump rope with me. You are the best uncle ever!!!!"