Cygnus and Christopher

Chapter 11

Unlike on the porch, notes of all frequencies dominated the basement. Sound casted a net over the cement floors and white walls, and I got caught in it. Maybe caught isn't quite the right word. Maybe the sound acted more like a patch of fog on a walking trail. Upon entry the boundaries of the world seemed to change, but entering and exiting was easy.

Two other people danced in the basement; Suzan and Tomas. They went wild. Arms flailing as they flowed over a large area of the floor. At one point they almost hit each other, but managed to turn it into a graceful embrace and kiss synched with the music.

In the brief lull between songs, Thomas and Susan laughed and opened their eyes. Through the low light, I saw them whisper into each other ears. Whatever they said to each other resulted in beaming smiles.

For as long as I'd known the pair, they had been dating. No fights seemed to occur between them, or at least they kept them private. Not once, since I met them in astronomy class a couple years prior, did I see them in anything other than in seemingly complete enjoyment of one another.

Sounds from the next songs started to occupy the space. Thomas and Susan came towards me in a fashion that seemed the marriage of walk and dance. "Good to see you. Who is your friend?" Thomas gestured towards Alex. I introduced the three of them to each other. Susan leaned in, presumably she had been unable to hear over the music, and I repeated my introduction of Alex. They hugged. Susan giggled. "Your skin feels wonderful. Like something I felt, but now. Enjoy the party." Unfinished thoughts were common for Susan that summer, well and before that summer too. She often seemed to only momentarily exist within a realm reachable by standard conversation. Rest of the time, she either melted and merged into the environment or drifted off into her own infinite private enclosure.

After the brief meet and greet Alex and I proceeded to dance. Sometimes together, in unison with both the music and each others motions. Sometimes alone, the other refiling a drink or heading upstairs to check in with Christopher and Nicole.

At the time, I thought of a good party, and perhaps just a good way to be was to fill the different senses with unique but synergistics pleasures, all the while teetering on the edge of lucid consciousness. By such a measure, Rick's party performed at a brilliant level. The peak perhaps occurred on the couch. Susan, Tomas, Christopher, Alex, and Nicole all squeezed in with me. My head leaned back, eyes closed, seemingly simultaneously capable of sleep or rejuvenation. About to fade out with friend's laughter and excitement spreading like dandelions over the long unmowed lawn of my life. However, Tomas' voice lured me back. "Bodyshots upstairs."

The allure of more liquor tempted me. A siren song singing "save sobriety until after sleep". Slowly slipping back to a more baseline type of consciousness just didn't often appeal to me. That time though the temptation turned out to be temporary.

Several people lay on the floor. Several others poured shots onto them. Several others drank the shots. Mouths sucked sticky liquid from both smooth and hairy stomachs.

Outside the window I spotted Alex, on a chair. So I turned from the festivities and joined Alex on the porch. "How are you doing?" Alex looked towards me. "Oh there you are. Did you get lost? I thought you were following me out here." It is entirely possible that I had agreed to follow Alex. My memory was on shaky ground for the evening. "Sorry. People were taking body shots. I thought I might join." I must of been slurring, because Alex just look confused. So, I attempted to repeat myself slower this time. It seemed the message got across as Alex responded. "Okay. I think I'll stay out here. Go ahead though if you want." And I did. Only partial though. The wind picked up. A cool light early summer breeze, somehow caused my shoulder to drop and jaw to slack. "Hey, I'm just gonna grab some water and then come back out."

I filled two glasses with water and headed back out. Rick stopped me on the way. "You sleeping here tonight?" Nights without a sober driver we typically slept at Ricks. "I think so yeah. Thanks." Rick looked a bit tired. "Cool cool. I'll put a sleeping bag on my floor in my room."

Clouds hid most stars from view. At times clouds appeared to be understanding of my desire to turn part of the world into a secret grotto. For a brief time, I nearly believed it.

I sat beside Alex, the spins made it seem as if something was in our favor, as if the centrifugal force of the spinning planet pushed us together and the hairs of our arms would tie together yet somehow not hurt us. A microscope closing in on some hidden harmony holding up underneath all the small clashes of day to day life. The focus never quite settled in the right spot. The scent of lilacs lasting less than a whole inhale.

Water tasted nice after consuming alcoholic beverages for most the night. I craved to drink it all immediately, but I slowed down and made an effort enjoy the refreshing aspect of it without upsetting my stomach. We drank our first glasses with little chatter. I laughed lightly; sitting there, craving water, imagining a somehow romantic tying of arm hair.

Alex refilled both out glasses. Instead of drinking them on the porch we went out onto the lawn. Grass soft against my forearms, Alex's head on my chest. My eyes began blinking with longer and longer intervals between the open phase of the cycle. During a particularly long closed phase, I wondered if a well hydrated me would make better fertilizer than a dehydrated me.

Temperatures started to drop or I started to sober up a bit, maybe both. Alex cuddled closer and spoke. "Tonight was interesting. I mean I haven't been to many parties before and I am just surprised how well things went. I didn't see anything get broken and everyone got along. I almost don't believe it. It is like I saw dozens of puppies cross a busy street and all make it safely to the other side." I put in effort for a bit to keep my eyes open, but then accepted that they might just stay closed for awhile. "In my opinion things typically go pretty well. However a few times they have gone quite poorly." An owl called in the distance, or some other bird. "Tell me about the times things went poorly? Actually no nevermind. I like it when things work out well." I did not hear anything return the owl or bird call. "Yeah me too."