Weekend (9 page)

"Hi! We made it!" Robin exclaimed, her voice as sweet as an angel's. Shani opened her eyes. Sol stopped the music by kicking the turntable, quickly putting distance between him and Kerry. Wearing a short dress the exact shade of red as her hair, Lena swept into the living room and claimed her man. Arm in arm with Park, Robin followed, with a frustrated Angie bringing up the rear. Quickly, Shani closed her eyes again. "Hi, Kerry," Robin said. "You look hot. Were you dancing?"

"Sol and I were," Kerry replied thinly.

"Hi, beautiful," Sol said, kissing Robin. Sol often called Robin beautiful. "You're late."

"Lena and I went to the movies. We sawBrainstorm . You just got to see it! The ending is so inspiring.

Anyway, afterwards, we stuffed our faces with junk at Jo Jo's and then Lena wanted to drop by and check out the action. So here we are."

"Looks like we missed a good time," Lena said. "This place is a mess. What's Shani been smoking?"

Park giggled. "She's a lightweight. One beer and she goes into a coma." He pinched her big toe through her tennis shoes. Shani opened her eyes slowly.

"Where am I?" she asked, knowing full well; best she act like she was out cold lest Angie realise that she had been listening. The toilet flushed and the bathroom door popped open. Grabbing the arms of her chair, she pulled herself up. "Excuse me, I've passed overflow." Laughter followed her wobbly steps.

Bert was splashing cold water on his face from the bathroom sink. Between them, he and Sol had killed a quart of whisky.

"Do you feel all right?" she asked.

"Great!" He roughed a towel over his red cheeks, shaking like a horse. "I was just taking myself a little nap in here."

"Do you know how long I've been waiting to get in here?"

"Since I fell asleep?"

"Exactly. Are you done?"

"I heard music. You want to dance?"

"I can hardly stand up."

"Throw up, you'll feel better."

"I don't have to throw up. I have to pee. Hurry up!"

"Stick a finger down your throat." Bert demonstrated, not improving her condition. "Works every time."

Shani put her hand on her stomach as it lurched three inches to the left. "Get out!"

Ten minutes later, tucked back in her chair with her bladderand stomach empty, Shani felt better, though still extremely sleepy. On her left, singing to himself, Bert was flipping through the record collection.

Sitting on the floor at Robin's feet, Park was eating Angie's cookies, his girlfriend all the while running her fingers through his hair, talking about the movie. Kerry and Angie were fretting together on the couch.

Lena and Sol had disappeared, probably into a bedroom to discuss Euclidean geometry.

"And at the end," Robin was saying, "he got to experience the record of the woman's death. It was so beautiful! What happened was… I probably shouldn't tell you. I don't want to ruin it. All of you have got to see it. They have it on the big screen at the mall."

"Where's Lena?" Park wondered aloud, floating in the ozone. "She can go swimming with—"

"I was surprised to see Lena show up," Angie cut him off.

"It wasn't planned," Robin said. "After we ate, she insisted on coming. Sorry, Kerry, if her coming upset things for you."

"Why should I care?"

"Where's Sol?" Park asked, blowing it left and right.

Robin lightly rapped the top of his head with her knuckles. "This poor little boy can't seem to hold his medicine."

"I'm bouldered," Park nodded pleasantly.

"Anyway, for myself," Robin said, "I was hoping you'd still be here, Kerry."

"Why?"

"Nothing important, just wanted to talk."

"About what?"

"A private matter. We can discuss it later."

Kerry chuckled sarcastically. "Nothing's supposed to be private with me, any more. Say what you want.

I don't give a damn."

"I had a long talk with Lena," Robin began. "I'm convinced she had nothing to do with it."

"I'm thankful for your objective opinion," Kerry said.

"I know my sister. She acts the tough cookie, but she would never intentionally try to hurt anybody."

"Her subconscious must be the culprit," Shani mumbled. The conversation was heating up, but her head was cooling down. She couldn't remember having closed her eyes, but a moment came when there were only voices to distract her dreamy thoughts.

"Come off it, Robin," Angie said. "Lena did it. She delayed Kerry; she drenched her with Coke. She set her up."

"I believe a lot of this could be explained by coincidence."

"And the paper shorts?" Angie said.

"I'm going to put on The Beach Boys!" Bert exclaimed.

"Pure, unadulterated brilliance," Park said.

Music, soft and pleasant, floated through her ears, mingled with Robin's polite defence, and Angie's and Kerry's sharp prosecution. But there were gaps, where Shani saw coloured pictures as vague as her mushy thoughts, and grey voids, where she saw and heard nothing at all. Yet she continued to surface periodically. The outside voices changed, in personnel and tone. Her name was mentioned, her foot pinched again. Doors opened and closed. The Pretenders started singing, people started dancing. The party was getting a second wind. Her bladder began to call for attention again. She opened her eyes.

Park, Bert, Robin and Angie were dancing as one big couple. Sol was stretched on his back on the couch smoking, Lena sitting on his lap drinking vodka and orange juice. There was no one in the bathroom but it was such a bother to get up. Shani assumed that Kerry had gone home until she saw her come out of the kitchen.

"My car still won't start," she said to Sol.

"Jap junk," he scowled, blowing a cloud of smoke. "I'll take you home in a minute, babe."

"When? It's one-thirty. I've got to work in the morning."

"Shani will take you home," Lena said. Shani deeply appreciated the offer of her services. She doubted she could start a car, never mind drive one.

"Shani's asleep," Sol observed, though her eyes must have been at least half open because she could see. The recordBack on the Chain Gang came to an end. Angie broke from the dance floor, heading for the kitchen. Bert made for the bathroom — naptime again. Robin fell, winded, into her chair, sweating and laughing, the picture of youth and vigour. Park collapsed at her feet, forever giggling.

"Why don't you just walk?" Lena asked.

Kerry had been doing an admirable job of avoiding Lena. Her approach underwent a dramatic revision.

"Why don't you just go to hell?" she blurted.

Lena sipped her drink, said casually. "When the time's right, I probably will."

But Sol sat up suddenly, causing Lena to fall on her ass on the floor and spill her drink in her face. He put out his cigarette. "I'll take you home now, Kerry."

"The hell you will!" Lena yelled, wiping at her dress. "You clumsy Cholo! Look what you've done."

Sol must have still been riding his Jack Daniels' buzz. In a normal state of consciousness, he would not have dared his next words. "Shut up, Lena."

Shani waited for the explosion. Lena's brown eyes widened. She sucked in a breath. "What did you say?" she asked very slowly, very softly.

Shani hoped that Sol actually did carry the switchblade Park accused him of keeping. "You heard me,"

he said.

"I guess I did," Lena whispered ominously. Everyone waited. Yet the bomb was suddenly defused, or else put on hold. Lena appeared to realise she was moving into a no-win situation. And Lena hated to lose. She smiled at Kerry. "Sol's so drunk, I know you wouldn't want him to drive. Robin and I won't be here much longer. We can give you a ride home."

What could Kerry say? She had scored the most points, but Lena had still somehow come out on top.

"Fine," Kerry muttered.

With the fireworks over, Shani contemplated unconsciousness again. Angie reappeared with a tray laden with freshly tapped litre mugs of beer. Park, Sol, and Kerry each took a glass. Angie set the remainder of the drinks on the corner table next to Robin. Lena went into the kitchen, probably to clean up.

"You running for sainthood?" Angie chided Robin. "Have a drink."

"I'll pass. I have to drive."

"Come on," Park said. "I've been drinking all night and I wouldn't hesitate to climb on top of the wheel."

"You mean,behind the wheel," Robin laughed.

"Wouldn't hesitate!" Park swore, drinking deeply.

Sol put on another record. His brain cells must have been drowning. They listened to an entire side of theCarpenters' Greatest Hits before Bert came out of the bathroom and stumbled into the stereo, turning off the music. Kerry jumped up for a nature call, but ran into Lena at the bathroom door. They exchanged unheard words. Kerry ended up following Bert - who was wandering aimlessly - into the kitchen. Sol shook his head sadly and got to his feet. He did not go into the kitchen or the bathroom, but drifted out of sight down the hall.

"You look like you need a beer!" Park called at Shani.

She closed her eyes. "Don't bother me, I'm asleep." And she must have been for the next few minutes.

When she opened her eyes next, everyone was back in the living room. This party would go on forever.

Sol was sitting on a chair next to Robin, offering her his mug of beer. Lena was planted precariously on the arm of the chair. Angie was on the floor at their feet with Park, whispering in his ear. Bert was lying face down on the carpet. Kerry was sitting on his butt, her back to Shani.

"We've got to get Robin drunk," Park announced. "It's our duty, our God-given duty."

"How are you going to lose your virginity if you won't let a guy get you drunk?" Sol asked, nudging Robin with his half-full glass. Shani wondered if they had spiked it with whisky. It looked darker than ordinary beer.

"Yeah!" Park cheered.

Robin blushed and took the glass, weighing it in her hands. "You won't believe this, but I've never even tasted beer before."

"You haven't missed a thing," Shani muttered.

"Sleeping Beauty's awake!" Park said. "Did I ever tell you guys how she messed her pants in fifth grade?"

"In kindergarten," Shani said. It came to her then how the mood of the room had changed. They had had drunken dancing, bursting bladders, spilled food, frustrated seductions, sharp arguments, and none of that had seriously dented the upbeat feeling of the party. Yet now, even in her dull condition, she sensed a building tension, as tangible to her as if a foul stench were being pumped into the room. She studied her friends, finding no explanation.

"Finish it in a gulp," Lena advised her sister. "You'll be a new person."

"I don't know why you're badgering her," Kerry said. "If she doesn't want it, she doesn't want it."

"I'd better not. It will just put me to sleep."

"Wimp," Lena said.

"To the eternal virgin," Park toasted with his empty glass.

"I guess you're going to be the one to drive us home, then," Sol said, lighting another cigarette.

Angie whispered in Park's ear, his eyes widening. She said out loud, "One drink, it won't kill you."

Shani sat up with a start. Afterwards, she would be unable to clearly explain to the others why. She did not believe in precognition, and her foreboding did not necessarily require its existence, for her nose may simply have picked up the poison and triggered a subconscious warning. Yet if that were so, Robin, who was closest to the glass, should have smelled it also. In either case, to Shani the room seemed suddenly permeated with death. She was afraid and she didn't know why. Robin picked up the mug, took a sip.

She frowned.

"This tastes awful."

"Finish it," Lena said.

Like a hardened guzzler, Robin did so, in one continuous swallow. Perhaps she thought that would impress them. But they only laughed. Bert rolled over, spilling Kerry, taking interest. Robin put the glass down, touching her stomach, staring straight ahead.

"So, what do you think?" Park asked.

Robin coughed, hard, twice. "Tastes awful," she breathed.

"Are you okay?" Shani asked, nevertheless beginning to relax. She must study about these impending-disaster sensations when she went to college. They came and went like lightning. Robin nodded, smiled weakly.

"Was that enough to get me drunk?"

"How do you feel?" Sol asked.

"Weird."

"Then it was probably enough."

Robin wiped her forehead. She was sweating like after dancing - heavier. "I think I'll stick to Coke.

Does it always leave such a bad taste in your mouth?" She leaned back in her chair.

"I've never noticed," Sol said. "Kerry, you still want a ride home?"

Lena butted in. "Robin and I are giving her a ride home."

Kerry yawned. "I'm so tired. Maybe I'll just spend the night."

"You're welcome to," Angie said, "if you'll give me a hand cleaning up."

"Okay."

"How about you, Park?" Angie asked. Lena left for the kitchen. Sol had to use the toilet. Bert rooted his face back in the carpet.

"Count me in! Are we still going to go—"

"Shh," Angie said. She leaned over, spoke in his ear. Park nodded eagerly. Shani required no ESP to know what she had said. How could they swim nude with Robin present? But then she understood.

Robin had gone to sleep. That was quick. Angie and Park headed for the front door. Shani stopped him.

"Park?" she called.

He spun around. "Yes, madam?"

"Robin just passed out."

"So?"

Shani stood. "She was awake a second ago."

"She drank too much."

"As if she had a choice. She only drank one glass."

Kerry moved to Robin's side and took her limp hand. Robin's head lay bowed like a puppet's whose strings had been cut. "She's out cold," Kerry said, worried.

Park knelt by his girlfriend's side, brushed aside a soft brown curl from her face, and glanced back at Angie. "That's weird," he whispered.

Angie spoke quickly. "Carry her into my parents' bedroom. Let her sleep it off."

"Good idea," Park said, slipping his arms under Robin's body, lifting her easily. She only weighed 110.