I was about to go to bed when the doorbell rang. I looked at my watch.
"Geez, it's after 11:30. Who could be here at this time of night?" I thought as I made my way to the front door.
I opened the door. "Hello? Who's there?"
"Mr. Grander. It's me -- Marcee," came the voice from the partially lighted alcove.
"Marcee...?" I was trying to place the name.
"Yeah, Marcee. You know, Jared's ex-girlfriend," she replied.
"Oh, Marcee!" I remembered. "Hi! It's been a while. What can I do for you?" I asked.
"I've got Jared," she said.
"I beg your pardon?" I said, not understanding.
"I've got Jared," she continued. "In the car."
"In the car...?" I still didn't get it.
"Yeah. In the car. He's drunk. I brought him home," she finally explained.
"Oh, my god!" I exclaimed as it hit me. "Oh, thank you, Marcee. Can he walk?"
"Uh... I don't think so, Mr. Grander," she answered. "He's pretty drunk."
"O.K. Well, let's get him inside," I replied, taking over the situation and doing what needed to be done.
I opened the front door the rest of the way and stepped out onto the carport. Marcee was standing there. I stepped over and gave her a shoulder hug.
"Thank you so much for doing this. You probably didn't have to, but I'm so glad you did. You probably saved his life by not letting him drive," I expounded as I looked her in the eye in the dimly lit alcove.
Marcee was my son's girlfriend, twice removed. I remembered them being fairly serious for almost a year and then something happened and it was over. Not untypically, it was never revealed to me what the 'something' was. It started soon after Jared got out of the marines. He came home to get his bearings and figure out what was in his future. He was staying at home until he got that figured out. That was almost three years ago. He hadn't figured it out yet.
I think Jared met Marcee through a mutual friend. The first time he brought her home, all I could think of was 'What a looker!' She was about his height, maybe a little shorter, but that night she had a pair of legs that wouldn't quit below her short skirt and a sweater that did little to hide her impressive chest. She was pretty, too, with light brown, shoulder-length hair that framed her face well. She had sparkling brown eyes and an endearing smile that warmed the room. In short, she was a beautiful woman. It seemed as if they hit it off well that night and the other times that she came around. They seemed to like each other, were compatible, and for a while I thought that the relationship might help him 'figure it out.' Then, the 'something' happened. I hadn't seen her since then until tonight.
I moved toward the passenger side of the car. "I hope he didn't throw up in your car," I said.
"No, nothing like that," she replied. "He's just out of it."
The car window was down and Jared was slumped in the seat leaning against the car door. I reached through the window and held him up while I opened the door. I grabbed him and, grunting and groaning, pulled him out of the seat and pulled his right arm around my neck to support him. He was too heavy for me and began to drag me over. Suddenly, Marcee was on his other side helping to support him.
"Thanks, Marcee," I said appreciatively as we walked, staggered, and stumbled to the front door, up the one step, then past the dining room and down the long hall to his room on the right. I kicked the door open and we scuffled in and dropped him onto the bed. We both stood there catching our breath. I glanced at Marcee and her considerable chest was heaving up and down.
"I guess I'll take his shoes off," I said as I knelt down and removed them. I lifted his legs up and swung them over onto the bed.
"Well, that's it. Nothing more we can do here," I remarked. I looked at Marcee. She looked at me and nodded. We turned and left the room.
As we were walking down the hall, I said, "Thanks, again, Marcee, for bringing him all this way. I am really appreciative of that. Can I offer you something to drink?"
"Oh, yeah, I guess so, Mr. Grander," she replied as she preceded me down the hall. "I'll just go out and close the car door." I observed that she wore tight shorts tonight.
"O.K. Good idea," I replied. "I'll start some coffee. And, Marcee, call me Jack."