We got to the party around 9:00. Amanda wasn’t there, but all of the guys were psyched to see Andrew. He had, after all, been the star basketball player when my friends and I were just in Junior High. They crowded around, admiring his car, and asking him questions about college ball. He played off the attention, but loved every minute of it, and I just sat back and smiled, holding on to Eliza beside the fire.
“Andrew’s done really well for himself, huh?” she said.
“Yeah, I guess he has. It’s good to have him around.”
“Too bad your dad had to drive him away.”
“It wasn’t all my dad, Eliza. Andrew had something to do with it.”
“Yeah, I know,” she sighed. “I’m just saying, good for him for going out and doing what he wanted to do, ya know? He wouldn’t have come this far working on the farm with your father. I just hope you don’t sacrifice a really good opportunity to go to school and play ball, just to humor him, Caleb. You’re too good. That’s all.”
I kissed her quickly, mostly because I didn’t know how else to respond.
I was surprised when Andrew went to the car and brought back a case of beer. I had not asked him to buy for us, and I wouldn’t expect him to. He knew that we were all under age. He set the case down and tossed me a beer, and soon the drinking turned into an unspoken contest between the two of us. Andrew could obviously hold his alcohol better than I could, and soon, the fire started to spin around the glowing faces and shadows of the trees. I patted Eliza’s leg and got up, stumbling and puking in the taller grass. When I returned, the guys were laughing with Andrew.
“…And Andrew takes a two-point lead in the Lemieux Brothers’ Battle of Budweiser,” someone announced. I was hardly amused. Then I saw Andrew take a hit and pass the bowl, smiling.
“I didn’t know you smoked pot,” I said.
“I don’t,” he answered. “But I’m on vacation in the Northeast Kingdom, what do you expect?” He was really getting a big kick out of himself, and so was everyone else. Even Eliza was grinning.
“Whatever, dude, but I need to go to bed. You almost ready, Eliza?”
“I guess.”
“All right, all right,” Andrew laughed. “It’s past Caleb’s bedtime. You guys take it easy – and stay out of trouble!” He took his time slapping hands before jumping in the car.
We were almost to our road when I started to get sick again. Andrew dropped me off and offered to take Eliza home.
“Poor kid,” he said, rustling my head as I got out of the car. “Once you get to college, you’ll learn how to handle this stuff like a champ.”
“Yeah, I know,” she sighed. “I’m just saying, good for him for going out and doing what he wanted to do, ya know? He wouldn’t have come this far working on the farm with your father. I just hope you don’t sacrifice a really good opportunity to go to school and play ball, just to humor him, Caleb. You’re too good. That’s all.”
I kissed her quickly, mostly because I didn’t know how else to respond.
I was surprised when Andrew went to the car and brought back a case of beer. I had not asked him to buy for us, and I wouldn’t expect him to. He knew that we were all under age. He set the case down and tossed me a beer, and soon the drinking turned into an unspoken contest between the two of us. Andrew could obviously hold his alcohol better than I could, and soon, the fire started to spin around the glowing faces and shadows of the trees. I patted Eliza’s leg and got up, stumbling and puking in the taller grass. When I returned, the guys were laughing with Andrew.
“…And Andrew takes a two-point lead in the Lemieux Brothers’ Battle of Budweiser,” someone announced. I was hardly amused. Then I saw Andrew take a hit and pass the bowl, smiling.
“I didn’t know you smoked pot,” I said.
“I don’t,” he answered. “But I’m on vacation in the Northeast Kingdom, what do you expect?” He was really getting a big kick out of himself, and so was everyone else. Even Eliza was grinning.
“Whatever, dude, but I need to go to bed. You almost ready, Eliza?”
“I guess.”
“All right, all right,” Andrew laughed. “It’s past Caleb’s bedtime. You guys take it easy – and stay out of trouble!” He took his time slapping hands before jumping in the car.
We were almost to our road when I started to get sick again. Andrew dropped me off and offered to take Eliza home.
“Poor kid,” he said, rustling my head as I got out of the car. “Once you get to college, you’ll learn how to handle this stuff like a champ.”
***
Wednesday morning came far sooner and far harsher than I was prepared for. I stood in the garage, squinting painfully against the bitter light of Dad’s work lamp. My head throbbed with every nail that was pounded into the new ladder for the tree stand as my father stood over my shoulder.
At that moment I hated my father for waking me. I hated my friends for laughing at me. And I hated my brother for humiliating me. My brother, who was still curled comfortably in his bed.
“I think Andrew said he wanted to help, too, Dad.”
“Andrew doesn’t know what he’s doing, Caleb. You’re doing a good job. Let him sleep.
***
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