I’m not sure where this one is headed, but the germ of the idea is that in college, I had a friend whose house was hit by a car, knocking the house a quarter-inch off its foundation. I thought it would make a great story and I tried writing it a year or two after I graduated, but like most other things I write, it never went anywhere. This excerpt has nothing to do with the house and the car, but it was a lot of fun to write.
—
Sam drove out to Slab Cabin Park, where the two of them sat on a hill in the icy night and drank coffee, enhanced with pours from Sam’s flask. Away from the bars, and away from her roommates, Julie enjoyed the bite of the wind on her face and the warmth of the whiskey and coffee.
“The students now, they’re different from how they were, even when I was in school. They’re more spoiled, snottier,” Sam said.
“How can you say that? Marianne went to community college before she came up here, and has worked all the way through school. Jessica’s mom cleans houses to put her through school, and that’s why she won’t settle for anything less than an ‘A’ in her classes. And I’m here on student loans I’ll be paying off for the rest of my life.”
“You guys are the exception. You don’t see it, but when I play frat houses… it used to be that the parking lots were full of F-150s and old beaters. Now it’s all Acuras and BMWs.”
“I think that’s the exception, Sam. Frats are always full of rich assholes, but there are way more people here who aren’t in fraternities.”
“I’m telling you, it’s different.”
“I think you’re just getting old.“ Julie waggled a gloved finger and started talking in a gravelly voice. “Kids today… when I was their age we walked to class – no wait, we didn’t walk to class because feet hadn’t been invented yet. We hopped on our stumps through the snow, and the whole campus was uphill. Both ways.”
“Stop it.”
“And beer was a nickel, and we drank it out of our hands because no one could afford cups, on account of the war.”
“Enough,” Sam said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about, young’un.”
“I’m only six years younger than you.”
“A lot happens in those six years.”
“Really? The only major difference in our lives is that I go to class, well, sometimes I go to class, and you build furniture during the day.”
“There’s more to it than that. You don’t know.” Sam looked down the hill and took a sip directly from the flask.
“Fine. Whatever, oh wise one.” Julie sipped her coffee. For just a moment she wondered if Marianne and Jessica were right about Sam. Julie tried to avoid the topic with them. When they joked about his height, she suspected that maybe they weren’t just joking about him being short, but that they were joking about her being bigger than Sam in every way.
“They live in the lap of luxury,” Sam said, his foot tapping vigorously on the frozen ground. “I live in the lap of lethargy. Are you ready to go?”
–
Julie heard the TV as she turned the key in the door of her apartment. Marianne and Jessica were watching a rerun of Beverly Hills 90210. There were several empty beer bottles on the floor.
“Hey Jules,” Marianne said. “Join the party.”
“Donna Martin graduated,” Jessica stated importantly.
“Shit, tonight’s the 90210 marathon, isn’t it?” Julie dropped her coat on a chair. When did you guys start?”
“We watched a few episodes in the morning, then came back to it after the game ended.” Marianne said. “Get a beer.”
Julie got a Yuengling from the fridge and sat on the floor. “Donna in a bikini, drink.” They all sipped their beers.
“Where’ve you been all day?” Jessica asked. “With Sam?”
“Yeah.” Julie suspected she was asking only because Sam gave her access to Matt’s life outside of the band.
“You know, Matt met a girl online.”
“Damn.” Jessica said.
“They chat for, like, hours at a time.”
“Is she pretty?”
“Dylan looking pained.” Marianne chirped. They all sipped their beers again.
“I haven’t seen a picture of her.”
A commercial came on. Marianne turned to Jessica. “Why do you even care? You’re practically engaged.”
“He’s my freebie. Doug and I have a deal. If the opportunity ever comes up, I’m allowed to sleep with Matt. Doug has one, too.”
“It’s not one of us, is it?” Julie asked.
“Gross. No. It’s the chickie bartender at the Darkhorse on Wednesday nights.”
“Really?” Julie mused. “She’s so… “
“Dumb? And out of his league?” Jessica asked.
“And she looks like she takes it up the butt,” Marianne interjected, and then belched. Jessica shot her a look. “Sorry, You’re the one who said it. Last week? You said she looks like she takes it up the butt.”
“Yeah. So, I’m really not worried.”
“I guess it makes sense that Doug’s freebie would be a ditsy chick whose job it is to serve him beer,” Julie said. “Does he think she has a tap in her pants?” Marianne snorted. Jessica was clearly eager to change the topic.
“So, how are things with you two?” she asked. “How’s Sam?”
“Um, the usual. Short. Small. Bitter.” Julie replied. “Like a shot of whiskey.”
“He’s not very nice to you.”
“Well, he’s not very nice to anyone. And neither is whiskey sometimes. It’s just how he is. We get each other, though. It’s fun.”
“To each her own.” Jessica raised her beer.
