huff & puff...& pass out

 
he put trick candles on my cake
brought it out...singing wildly off key
grinning with childlike glee
{it's his way...}

I had my suspicions
but kept them to myself
& played along
giving it one good long blow
getting them all out in a single puff

& watched with sadness
as his face creased into a mask of guilt
when I erupted into a spate of vicious coughing
{par for the course...
it was to be expected}
his profuse apologies muffled by their volume

I shook my head fiercely & waved it off
I get it...it's all part of the fun
no regrets or anything like them
what good are birthdays...
...if not for being silly

just because my asthmatic lungs slow me down
doesn't mean I'm not still a kid at heart
I don't let the effects of age stop me
...not if I can help it

I refuse to deny my family a good practical joke
& a healthy giggle
I hit the inhaler & keep it moving
bring on the ice cream

although for the record...
...I did refuse to give it another go
letting him deal with the re-igniting wicks
after all...
I do still need my breath