Walking out of This World

Nine

"Get yourself ready! I'm taking you out on the town tonight, little brother!" Warren exclaims, his beaming face flashing into my view. "How was community service?"

I reluctantly leave the warm embrace of an accommodating bed, the note in my jean's pocket clamoring for recognition.

"Some guy down at he homeless shelter asked me to give you this note," I say while weighing the note between two fingers and pointing it in Warren's direction.

He takes a quick glance at the note and back at my face. A moment of secret recognition seems to pass between us. "Well...Isn't that a curious event." He takes the note from my hand.

He shoves the note deep into a front pocket—Wrangler jeans. "It's time for me to show you a good time! Think of it as a reward for a good job at the homeless shelter!" His face almost explodes behind a beaming smile.

I can't refuse a ride in his fancy BMW. Sounds like a good excuse for a donation of my time to his invitation. I turn an appropriately placed knob and my leather seat produces a hint of warm to match the cooling September night.

Warren engages the CD player and Metallica blasts out Whiskey in the Jar.

We pull into a dimly lit parking space behind an unassuming brick building. The BMW's doors quietly close behind us and Warren leads the way through a narrow door that has obviously not withstood the onslaught of old Mr. Time well. Tired hinges squeal in protest to granting another forced entrance.

"What's up, Sally?" Warren casts a nonchalant greeting toward an antique wood bar that gives the impression of a pirate hangout. The bar proudly stands in front of a glorious display of glasses and bottles, there beauty reflected by the testimony of a humungous mirror extending across the entire back side of the bar. We follow a trail of stained glass chandeliers, barely allowing their electric glow to escape into chattering voices working at conquering the busy environment.

"Send two rum and cokes our way!" Warren shouts into the din of spirited conversation and laughter.

Sally nods a recognition of our contribution to the lingering crowd. I follow Warren, moving toward an isolated booth. He doesn't ignore the task of responding to a scattering of welcoming gestures.

We slide into red-padded, high-backed benches which reduces the reach of the noisy crowd. We each take command of one side of the table, placing us across from each other. A long haired guy slides two glasses of brown liquid across the table. Warren hands him a twenty dollar bill. "Keep the change."

The guy gratefully takes the bill and leaves a well placed thank you to linger for a brief moment behind his retreat.

"Here's to another night of fun!" Warren lifts his glass and I join him with a toast to whatever.

The throw down of brown liquid invites a buzz for a short interruption of One's normal patterns. Some new threads are being sent into One's conceptual tapestry.

Female chatter closes in on our table and two lightly scented bodies, belonging to the opposite sex, scoot into the remaining spaces.

Warren turns his face to his left and lays a quick kiss on his new seatmate's willing lips.

"Okay....I want you to meet my fraternity brother, John. John you are now beholding the two most beautiful sorority women at State. My girlfriend, Tonya and her sorority sister, Lacey," Warren announces.

"I'm happy to meet you, John," Tonya says. Her golden hair falls down framing a face that is easy to look at. A smile opens below slightly tanned cheeks that point up to shinny blue eyes.

"The beautiful young sister, Lacey, sitting next to you is a new member of their freshman class," Warren explains.

My face turns right to acknowledge Lacey's introduction. Her short brown hair lays claim to another pleasing set of features. Her green eyes sparkle above a little chuckle finding escape through red tinted lips.

"What are you drinking?" Tonya asks while throwing a fetching glance at Warren.

"Rum and coke."

"Are you going to invite us for another round?" She teases.

Warren takes out his cell phone. "Hey, Sally we're ready for another round of rum and cokes...if you please."

Tonya and Warren become occupied with an intimate conversation. I break the awkward silence. "Where do you call home, Lacey?"

"Up state New York," she readily answers. "Dad owns a hardware store. One of those ACE franchises."

"What brings you across the Appalachians?" I ask. I'm digging deep into One's inventory of small talk topics.

"I want to be more independent. Distance is my solution," her smile becoming more inviting.

Arrival of our drinks interrupts our conversation and invites the quick work of drinking the fizzy contents. The hidden bite of the rum is becoming more hospitable.

"I would like to propose we move this party to my friend Jeff's house. He has a fire pit in his back yard and, I'm sure we could talk him into making s'mores."

Warren starts pressing numbers on his phone. "Hey Jeff! You ready for a s'more party?" Warren turns on the speaker function.

"Sure! Come on over," Jeff replies enthusiastically.

Warren turns his attention on me. "What time is your first class tomorrow?"

"One o'clock," I regretfully answer.

"And you girls?" Warren scans both of their faces for an acceptable answer.

"No classes on Monday," Tonya answers, followed by an assenting nod from Lacey.

"Jeff always keeps a little something extra for a great tripping evening.

Tripping?

"Shh...That's code for somethin' that'll take you for a walk out of this world."

Ones' friend seems to have woken up.