1982
Gina Wright
"Gina!" Lori, my best friend, rolled down her car window as I walked in this parking lot to go home.
Blush.
Eyeliner.
Hush.
See what you made me do?
"Make-Up" by Vanity 6 warbled from the radio when she turned up that volume dial.
After parking safely, Lori opened the door and hopped out, dancing with me for a moment.
Base.
Mascara.
Erase.
I wanna look good for you….
By the time we passed two more verses and reached my favorite part of this song, we fastened seat belts.
If I wear a dress.
He will never call.
So I'll wear much less.
I guess I'll wear my camisole….
Make-Up.
Make-Up…
"Happy Birthday, girl!" Lori handed over this small but adorable gift bag.
"Thank you!" I smiled.
Lori offered the sweetest card along with some candy store favorites and a new keychain.
Yet, my hand caught another envelope seconds later.
"What's this?" I asked.
Rather than answering my question right away, Lori smirked and changed the music out of nowhere.
Nothing clicked in my brain while opening that second envelope until one familiar greeting played out loud:
Don't worry.
I won't hurt you.
I only want you to have some fun…
"Lori! Are you serious?" I almost panicked and watched my best friend in shock, barely holding tickets. I couldn't believe it.
"Yeah! Happy birthday. Now, let's go. Can't be late." Lori made a vow with the biggest smile on her face. I wanted to sob.
They say 2000-00, party over.
Oops, out of time.
So tonight, I'm gonna party like it's 1999!
"Thank you!" We buckled our seat belts and drove off, heading straight to the future.
***
As Vanity 6 opened the show, Lori and I were already slipping away from cool.
Every time Susan Moonsie or Brenda Bennett moved onstage, we kept cheering, encouraging these two dames without fail.
But when our motherfucking queen, Denise "Vanity" Matthews, took off her dark suit coat and strutted in badass lingerie with killer boots, I almost lost my voice, going feral with Lori. Calm outright vanished now.
"Go, girl!" I put my hands up and gestured at her, shouting.
"Yes, Ma'am!" Lori was just as invested, almost sounding pissed off in a hilarious way.
At one point, Vanity even straddled the microphone stand during "Nasty Girl."
"You better ride that shit! C'mon." I scrambled, almost talking over Lori during our excitement. Humored by the moment, Lori thrashed her hair, jamming anyway.
And Prince himself wasn't even in front of us yet.
Damn-good show already. I thought to myself.
****
From "Get It Up" to "Cool" and every other groove found in between, funk-suited Morris Day shut it down with "The Time."
