black curtain on the opposite end of the room screened a sloped platform where bands, comedians, and other artists performed most nights of the week.
A slow-forming grin took shape on Brandon’s sun-tanned face. His almond-colored eyes tried to focus while holding a topped off mug of beer steady. It accidentally titled in his hand, and even though some alcohol tipped onto the floor, he overlooked the mistake. “Hey, college grad!”
“Hey, guys,” I said, taking a seat beside my two best friends. They often had a love-hate relationship: they loved to hate each other…when they had been drinking. Otherwise, Kendall just plain loved Brandon, while he remained oblivious of her affection.
“How does it feel being the smartest person at this table?” Brandon asked.
“Speak for yourself,” said Kendall, only a speech impediment made her mangle the word ‘yourself’ into ‘yourgshelf.’ She tucked some of her shoulder-length dark hair behind an ear.
“I thought I just did,” he replied.
“So you don’t remember? Or you aren’t sure?” Kendall had fleeting emotions and mannerisms, which made it difficult for people to get a handle on her temperament at any given time. Whether she smiled or frowned, complimented or criticized, people often had the same response after meeting her: they headed in the other direction. But if they took the time to look past this characteristic, they would have found a trusting, loyal, and intelligent woman with a wicked sense of humor.
I watched Brandon giving great deliberation to Kendall’s sarcasm, as though he’d been tasked with answering a question on a television game show. He shrugged, lifted his mug of beer to his mouth, and took a few big gulps.
With great concern, probably only because Brandon wasn’t watching her, Kendall swiveled to address her unrequited love interest. “You’ve killed more brain cells drinking tonight than…” She trailed off because he slammed down the half-empty mug. “…than you even have. Did you borrow some or something? Maybe pick-up a few on layaway at Walmart?”
“You don’t remember? Oh, I guess that makes sense. You were selling a thousand brain cells for a buck, so I placed a large order.”
“You see that?” Kendall asked me with a short-lived smile. “A large order! Because I’ve got big brains.” She unfurled her arms and extended them wide. “They’re huge!”
“Actually,” Brandon said, “I only ordered two-bucks-worth. The rest malfunctioned.”
“That’s funny because all the women you date say the same thing about your balls.”
“Yeah, I tried to return those rusty brain cells,” he said, ignoring her comment. He pointed to her head. “But the lights were out. I’m guessing all the corrosion up there blew a fuse. Understandable, but still: I deserve a refund.”
“This from a man whose women say they’d prefer to have ‘Minute Maid’ instead of ‘Minute Man.’”
“So, Brandon,” I said, already exhausted by their back-and-forth. “You said we’d want to see this band.” I took a seat across from Kendall. “What should we be looking for?”
He grinned. “You’ll know it when you see it.”
I didn’t want to get caught by surprise again today, but I knew better than to question him. He would only grow more obstinate.
“What’s wrong?” Kendall asked me, sliding a red fingernail across the tip of an untouched glass of Cosmo. “You had two milestones today: graduation and you can drink legally. You should look happy or relieved, but you look flustered and frustrated.” She reached out and placed a palm over my knuckles. “What’s gives?”
That comforting quality between us had existed since middle school, and it had never faltered. I loved Grams more than anyone did, but only Kendall could see through my defenses with such ease and get me to lower them with such ease. I’m certain that her emotional astuteness derived from having suffered countless insults about her
A slow-forming grin took shape on Brandon’s sun-tanned face. His almond-colored eyes tried to focus while holding a topped off mug of beer steady. It accidentally titled in his hand, and even though some alcohol tipped onto the floor, he overlooked the mistake. “Hey, college grad!”
“Hey, guys,” I said, taking a seat beside my two best friends. They often had a love-hate relationship: they loved to hate each other…when they had been drinking. Otherwise, Kendall just plain loved Brandon, while he remained oblivious of her affection.
“How does it feel being the smartest person at this table?” Brandon asked.
“Speak for yourself,” said Kendall, only a speech impediment made her mangle the word ‘yourself’ into ‘yourgshelf.’ She tucked some of her shoulder-length dark hair behind an ear.
“I thought I just did,” he replied.
“So you don’t remember? Or you aren’t sure?” Kendall had fleeting emotions and mannerisms, which made it difficult for people to get a handle on her temperament at any given time. Whether she smiled or frowned, complimented or criticized, people often had the same response after meeting her: they headed in the other direction. But if they took the time to look past this characteristic, they would have found a trusting, loyal, and intelligent woman with a wicked sense of humor.
I watched Brandon giving great deliberation to Kendall’s sarcasm, as though he’d been tasked with answering a question on a television game show. He shrugged, lifted his mug of beer to his mouth, and took a few big gulps.
With great concern, probably only because Brandon wasn’t watching her, Kendall swiveled to address her unrequited love interest. “You’ve killed more brain cells drinking tonight than…” She trailed off because he slammed down the half-empty mug. “…than you even have. Did you borrow some or something? Maybe pick-up a few on layaway at Walmart?”
“You don’t remember? Oh, I guess that makes sense. You were selling a thousand brain cells for a buck, so I placed a large order.”
“You see that?” Kendall asked me with a short-lived smile. “A large order! Because I’ve got big brains.” She unfurled her arms and extended them wide. “They’re huge!”
“Actually,” Brandon said, “I only ordered two-bucks-worth. The rest malfunctioned.”
“That’s funny because all the women you date say the same thing about your balls.”
“Yeah, I tried to return those rusty brain cells,” he said, ignoring her comment. He pointed to her head. “But the lights were out. I’m guessing all the corrosion up there blew a fuse. Understandable, but still: I deserve a refund.”
“This from a man whose women say they’d prefer to have ‘Minute Maid’ instead of ‘Minute Man.’”
“So, Brandon,” I said, already exhausted by their back-and-forth. “You said we’d want to see this band.” I took a seat across from Kendall. “What should we be looking for?”
He grinned. “You’ll know it when you see it.”
I didn’t want to get caught by surprise again today, but I knew better than to question him. He would only grow more obstinate.
“What’s wrong?” Kendall asked me, sliding a red fingernail across the tip of an untouched glass of Cosmo. “You had two milestones today: graduation and you can drink legally. You should look happy or relieved, but you look flustered and frustrated.” She reached out and placed a palm over my knuckles. “What’s gives?”
That comforting quality between us had existed since middle school, and it had never faltered. I loved Grams more than anyone did, but only Kendall could see through my defenses with such ease and get me to lower them with such ease. I’m certain that her emotional astuteness derived from having suffered countless insults about her
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