The Party

Why isn’t anyone listening to me? They just keep talking over me and putting something back over my face while telling me to lie still and take deep, slow breaths. I try to lift my arm but it’s too heavy. The doors near my feet crash open and there are more people yelling.

“His BP is 164 over 110.”

“He’s agitated and keeps trying to pull out his IV, so we had to restrain him.” Restrain? That must be why my arms won’t move.

I must be in the ER. Being rushed in, the lights overhead whiz by and they hurt my eyes, which are so heavy but if I close them I’ll fall asleep. I’ve got to stay awake and tell them what happened. Did they find Paul, Mike and Tommy?

Coming to an abrupt stop, I’m lifted and slammed onto a new surface. Suddenly there are doctors and nurses everywhere and someone is shining a light in my eyes. They are cutting off my clothes. Still no one is listening to me, I feel them undo the restraints and I try to sit up but, they push me back down and hold me there. As I struggle I hear one of the doctors say, “Push two milligrams of Versed.” My eyes feel even heavier, why can’t I feel my legs?

* * * *

Being seniors, we are the kings of the school and this party is the kickoff to our last month of high school and all the festivities like prom, senior week and dun duh dah... graduation. Me, Tommy, Paul and Mike have been waiting for this night since we met in the seventh grade. These parties are legendary. We made a pact that we would go, just the four of us. At the time we didn’t have girlfriends. And even though we all do now the girls understand, we just want to arrive together, and they are going to meet us there. We have the perfect ride, a 67’ Shelby Mustang GT, that me and my dad helped Paul restore. His grandfather left it to him in his will and honestly there isn’t even enough room for the girls. We are so ready to have the most epic night ever.

Me and Tommy work together at a small, family-owned gas station named, Houlden’s. When we see Paul and Mike roll up at quitting time I run toward them, leap into the air while screaming, “Hood slide.”, and slide across the hood of the car only to slip right off the other side and onto the ground.

Quickly jumping to my feet, I see Tommy on the ground laughing and Paul and Mike have both fallen out of the car in hysterics. I merely say, “I meant to do that”, and brush myself off. When I look back up I notice an old beat up Chevy truck pull up to the pump across from Paul’s car. Two guys, both dressed in all camo, jump out of the cab. One goes right to pumping gas while the other walks by us into the store. They both have, what looks like paint all over their clothes. At closer inspection of the truck I notice a rifle hanging in the back window and mud on the tires and kicked up onto the fenders. The car lover in me cringes inwardly. It looks like they beat the crap out of a truck that would clean up really nice.

“What a shame. That truck is in pretty good shape but not for much longer if they keep treating it like that.” Mike says stepping up next to me.

As expected the guys rag on me, about my botched hood slide, the whole way to my house. Before going in to change I say, “Hey, come check out the latest me and my Dad have been working on.”

I have been restoring classic cars with my dad, it seems, since I could walk. So, it only made sense that we turned the big old shed out back into our garage. “Holy shit! A 69’ Chevy Camaro. Where’d you get this?” Tommy asks bending down to peer in the driver’s side window. It’s a black convertible with black interior and when we are done with it, it’ll have a kick-ass stereo system.

“Phil, from the junkyard on the other side of town, where we get most of our parts, called us last week when this rolled in. He knew I’ve always wanted to work on one and he gave us a great deal.”

“It’s gorgeous. Let me know if you need any help.” Paul says as he circles the car to get a full view.

“Definitely. I can’t wait til she’s done” I answer.

“Glad you guys like it. Because this is Stephen’s graduation present.” My dad says as he steps into the garage.

Completely stunned I look over at my dad and whisper, “Really? Don’t mess with me.”

“Really. I talked your mother into it.” He says with a wink.

“You better not be kidding because that would just be mean.”

Laughing now dad answers, “No kidding.” Practically jumping on him I give him a tight hug.

Mike reaches over putting a hand on Dad’s shoulder and says, “She’s beautiful. Let me know if you ever come across a Classic Chevy truck, early to mid-seventies. I have been saving for one since before I got my license.”

After contemplating for a second my Dad says, “I actually think I might know of one. I’ll look into it.”

“That would be awesome! Thanks.”

“What are you boys up to tonight?” Dad asks

My dad went to this same party when he was a Senior, so I say, “Actually tonight is the annual senior party.”

“Oh yeah? Well, I remember my party so all I’m going to say is be careful and watch out for each other and the girls.”

“We will. We’re taking my car and the girls are going to meet us there.” Paul says

“Yeah, I saw it in the driveway. How’s she running?”

“Purrs like a kitten.” Then after looking longingly at her he adds, “I love that car.”

“Good to hear. Why don’t you guys have dinner with us before you go?”

“We were going to grab something on the way.” I say only because I want to get to the party as soon as possible.

“A home cooked meal is better than fast food any day.” Tommy says with a sly smile. My Mom is a great cook.

“Besides your mother made your favorite.” My Dad adds while wagging his eyebrows.

Mike jumps right in to ask, “Her famous spaghetti and meatballs?”

My Dad is already walking towards the house and yells over his shoulder, “Yup.”

“I vote we stay.” Mike says raising a hand into the air.

The other guys agree so we all file into the house to get washed up. Tommy and I run upstairs quickly to change out of our work clothes and when we come back down Paul and Mike are helping set the table.

When I walk into the kitchen I find my mom draining the pasta so I go and kiss her on the cheek, “Hi sweetie, can you grab the garlic bread out of the oven?” She asks.

“Sure.” I answer grabbing the pot holders off the counter. After transferring the bread into a basket, I bring it into the dining room.

Sitting down to eat we immediately start talking about graduation. After a few minutes mom says, “Don’t think I don’t know that you’re trying to distract me. I know what tonight is.” She looks over at Dad and notices him trying to hide a smile. Busted. It’s not a secret but no one wants to be told not to go.

“I’m not going to tell you not to go.” Well at least that’s good I think looking around the table at the guys with a smile. “But please use good judgement.” she says

“We will Mrs. Damon.” Paul says before taking a huge bite out of his garlic bread.

“That’s all I ask.” she says with a roll of her eyes and a small smile. At that the conversation starts up again and dinner is over not long after. A spaghetti dinner goes pretty quickly when it’s feeding four growing boys, or so my mom always says.

“We should probably get going.” Paul says as he stands up and gathers his plate and utensils.

“Well, have a great time and remember what we said.” Dad says as we finish putting the dishes in the dishwasher.

In unison we simply say, “We will.”