Happy Birthday in the Shower

“Spppp! Spppppiissss! Carol!”

In the shower across from me, Maggie is trying to get my attention. My hair foaming in shampoo, most of which is falling in my eyes, blurs her motions to me for a moment.

“It’s Alice’s birthday today!” she whispers through all the spray as 6 women soap up after swimming. “She’s coming! Let us know, okay?”

I’m in the prime vantage point to see Alice’s approach.

“…and then we’ll all sing her “Happy Birthday!” Maggie beams as the water streams down her.

Happy birthday in the shower? I’m, of course, completely delighted as Alice comes lumbering into the locker room and heads for the shower. I wave my arm up to get everyone’s attention; the other women watching me for direction.

Alice enters the showers and, “Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you!” Everyone bellows the familiar song in wild shower abandon. We’re all laughing too as Alice stops and watches in wonder, starting to give us all her boisterous laugh. I remember the time she told me how her laugh was one of her best qualities. I had agreed at the time and today, it certainly expressed her surprise, appreciation, and joy.

Finishing up, we join in Alice’s laughter.
            “I can’t believe it!” she exclaims.

“When was the last time you had six naked women singing you ‘Happy Birthday’ Anne asks.

“Uh…never!” Alice erupts in laughter. “I’d ask to take everyone’s picture, but I suppose that would be X rated.”

We all grin. And, indeed, 6 naked women singing in the shower at Richmond High School’s pool would be quite a photo.

Anne starts singing, “On the day of Alice’s birthday, 6 women sang to her. 6 women showering….”

More hilarity. Maggie gives up her shower to Alice. It’s Alice’s favorite. All for her birthday.

Earlier, when I was swimming, I’d noticed that there was a woman in the water walking section of the pool with a fabulously decorated hat. Looking more closely, I saw that it was a 3-dimensional cake with birthday candles affixed to the top and “Happy Birthday” written in lime letters around the rim. I’d thought it was her birthday and she was celebrating herself with a water walk and a hat, but, in fact, it was Alice’s birthday she was wearing the hat for.

“Five minutes ladies!” One of the guy lifeguards hollers at us from out in the hall.

“HEY!” I holler back, “it’s Alice’s birthday! You need to give her an extra five minutes for her special day!”

Alice guffaws. “THANK YOU, Carol!”

I grin. Alice is always the last one out of the locker room. The least they can do for her birthday is to not yell at her to get out!

            “Where do you want to go for lunch?” Anne asks now, trying to pull on her colorful flowered leggings. “That sushi place you like?”
            “Nah, I don’t think so. There’s no sit-down area there.”

            “What about that other place you like…. oh, I can’t remember the name…it has artisan in the name.”

            “Artisan a Sushi”

            “Yes! That’s it. Do you want to go there?”

            “I don’t know. We can talk about it.”

            Anne glances across the room at me as I’m trying to stuff all my gear into my swim bag. “Carol, you are welcome to come with us.” She smiles warmly and I’m touched to be included. But not today. I have work to do. And tell her thanks but have to decline.

            The lifeguard's yelling stopped after my hollering back. I finish with collecting my stuff and start to head out, part of me wishing that I could go with them, but another part of me knowing that I really am quite antisocial. And, sitting inside a restaurant still makes me anxious. I know everyone says that the pandemic is over, but DL told me she knows of 4 people who came down with COVID last week.

            Yikes. I don’t need to risk that. Even for Alice.

            “Have a great lunch,” I call back to them, heading out the door. “Happy Birthday.”

            “Thanks, Carol!” Alice calls after me. “It really is shaping up to be quite a special day!”

            And she laughs and laughs and laughs, the mirth floating out of the locker room and following me into the parking lot.