I never got too involved in the car pool of mommies, students and the occasional dad that transported my daughter to Bat Mitzvah lessons. It did leave me with a little out-of-the-loop feeling, but work and my own recreational endeavors usually got first call on my time. Mostly, it was four girls and their moms that did the round trip from our end of town to the schul. Occasionally, one of the dads would stop by and honk his horn signaling it was time for my kid to get out there and not hold up the parade. My wife usually got pick-up duty for the homeward trip since she works late. I met and disliked one couple as being too arrogant. The other two I only got to see sporadically and really didn't have a feeling one way or the other about them. My wife was more the social butterfly and knew everyone by name, face and reputation. I might have gone forever without getting any closer to these folks until the cluster of services were finally done with and over and the series of parties began.
My girl's party came first and was uneventful. There were lots of annoying teenagers throwing olives at each other, shaking their asses in what passes for dancing these days and generally raising Hades. We elected not to have alcohol and got only a few parents involved as a result. The second party was equally quickly upon us and also featured mostly kids and chaperones trying to stay out of each other's ways.
The third party in the group was different. The arrogant hot shots had rented out a fancy hall, filled it with professional dancers, singers, DJs, distant relatives and a couple hundred "close" friends. I even made the list, oh joy. At least they had an open bar and, even though I'm a light-weight drinker, I made my way their as soon as I walked in. Maybe if I got drunk, the long evening would be tolerable or at least pass by quickly. My wife holds her liquor much better than I do; practice makes perfect I guess. We sat down with our drinks and watched the wriggling young bodies, sexy pro dancers and listened to the hip-hop rap crap that the kids all seemed to actually know the words to. My glass seemed to be refilling itself-I don't even remember making the trips back to the bar to get more. Pretty soon the chair and I were one. I was somewhere between mellow and toasted.
The night wore on and the lights began to dim and the music softened as the kids dispersed to talk, fool around, and see what trouble they could get into. The old folks now were reclaiming the dance floor. My own head was comfortably numb with a combo of wine, rum and coke and a touch of grass that I had sneaked off to inhale. Someone that I vaguely recognized as one of the other dads from our car-pool group came by during one of the louder tunes and asked me something. I heard the words wife and dance and nodded yes. Off they went hand in hand which surprised me a little since my wife seldom liked to dance. Maybe it was a chance to rub and bump against a strange man or possibly the alcohol had loosened her inhibitions. I was too blitzed to intervene in any case.
"You enjoying yourself?" The dad (Dan) and my wife had reappeared and his voice seemed to drift in from outer space. "You look a few sheets to the wind." There was no denying that. Kat was smiling brightly and Dan was practically smirking it seemed.
"I'm fine; maybe had a little more to drink than is usual for me." Actually, I'd had a lot more than was usual.
"Do you mind if I borrow Kat for a few more songs?" Seeing no reason to deny them their fun I smiled wanly and nodded. If I had nodded harder, I'd have nodded off to sleep.
The next time I remember observing them, it seemed that Dan's hand was on her butt while his other hand held her hand up close to their faces which also were just millimeters apart now. The tunes had slowed way down and they were just swaying on the dance floor. Kat was now tightly pressed up against Dan and they were chatting quietly into each other's ears. Dan's wife came by my table with a concerned look on her face.