For as long as she could remember Carla would go to her grandparents house on the 4th of July.
Her mom and dad had a decent house but Grandma and grandpa's house was just over a mile from a park with a small hill that you could see the local fireworks from. Every year they would gather at the house and few hours before the fireworks started they would all Walk together to the park.
Some of the uncles would be there all day. Having a few beers and partying.
Holding the spot for everyone. The fireworks started at 9pm and lasted about 15 minutes. Then everyone in the family would hang out for around 20 minutes while the crowd thinned out then carry stuff back to grandmas house.
Carla was 19 and was working a new job at a local amusement park. Her first few weeks she was in the putt putt golf booth but now luckily she was inside working the arcade. It was busier and She had zero seniority but at least it had some air conditioning. It was a fun summer job and there wasn't a uniform. She just wore shorts and t-shirts. It had been hot so today Carla opted for a tank top. The job did require closed toe shoes but Carla usually just switched to sandals before leaving for home.
Carla was a beautiful Latina. If a color was picked to represent her it would be brown.
Her hair dark brown. Almost black. Her skin was medium brown. Especially in the summer. Her eyes were light brown.
She had requested the day off but was instead scheduled to work until 7:30 pm. By the time she got off work and drove to her grandmothers house it was already a little before 8:00. She looked at the clock when she walked in and saw it was 7:57. She thought about hurrying up and walking to the park.
Carla could run that far easily in little over 14 minutes or walk it in around 20 minutes.
But she's didnt feel like putting her tennis shoes back on. She sat and wondered if it was even worth it. She really wanted to just chill for an hour. So Instead she decided to go up stairs to a spare room that had a small balcony facing the park. From there she could see the fireworks also but there were a few trees in the way.
Carla sat in a chair already set on the balcony. From her purse she took out a joint, lit up and smoked a bit. She called her mom and said she was just told that they needed her till 8:30 and that she would be at grandmas house around 9:20.
Her was sorry she couldn't make it. Carla didn't feel like walking to thePark so she said it was cool and work was fun so it wasn't a big deal. She then added that she might just go to her friends house because it was closer to work to see the fireworks.
Carla hung up the phone and lit up again. She slowly exhaled and finally started to relax. She was wondering if maybe she would just go home instead. Suddenly she heard a gravely deep voice in the darkness.
"It sure smells good over there"
Carla was a little startled. But in the darkness she saw a man sitting in the balcony diagonally across from her. The house Carla was in sat on the corner of one street and that neighbor sat on the corner of the cross street. They both had an okay view of the fireworks. "Hi. You scared me. I didn't see you there"
Was all that Carla said.
The man reached back and opened the screen door, reached in and flicked on a light.
Then he closed the door. It was Reggie. An older man who lived in that house for as long as Carla could remember.
She had seen him only a handful of times because Reggie worked as a long distance trucker. He was generally only home for a week every month. Carla knew when he was in town because her grandmother would complain how he parked his "big ol' truck" at the top of the hill.
Carla's grandma was friendly enough with Reggie's wife but her Grandfather hated Reggie. This started when Carla's grandparents first moved in to the house in the late 90's Reggie seemed a little too friendly with her grandmother talking over the fence.
"Sorry about that. Didn't mean to scare you. But I smelled the smoke. it seems like you planned better than I did"
Carla laughed a little. Reggie had beer in his hand and a few beers lined up on the balcony.
Carla was thirsty so she replied without thinking.
"At least you got something to drink. It's too damn hot"
Reggie laughed also.
"I'll tell you what, If you wanna come over and share what you got I'll share what I got. "
Carla almost jumped up. But she stood up and said she would be right over. Reggie told her the door was open and it was the first bedroom at the top of the stairs.
Carla grabbed her lighter and walked over. She walked around the corner and then walked in through the unlocked front door, up the stairs and into the bedroom. The bedroom looked like a guest room. It had only a full sized bed and a dresser but passed the bed was the balcony where Reggie was sitting back down. He had turned on a small solar light.
"I didn't want it to be too dark but I didn't want that damn bright light on."
It was nice. Gave a soft glow but not super bright.
Reggie handed Carla a beer. She drank it really fast then asked for another.
Reggie laughed and asked what the Rush was as he handed her another beer.
"Well to be honest I'm 19. So my mom doesn't let me drink"
Reggie replied quickly.
"The LAW says you can't drink. Your mom is just trying to raise you correctly."
Carla sheepishly held her hand out to give back the beer.
Reggie pushed her hand back to her again.
"Honey. I'm not your dad or the law. If you wanna get a little tore up on the 4th of July then I'm all for it, have a seat and pass the joint"
Carla opened the beer and sat down. She took a sip and then passed Reggie her joint and the lighter. Reggie took two good puffs and leaned back in his chair before passing the joint back again. Carla lit up also.
While she did Reggie started asking her questions.
"I haven't see you around these parts in a bit. What's your name again?"
Carla exhaled.
"I'm Carla. Mr. Reggie right?"
Reggie shook his head.
