It was a hot summer day, Rick and Tonya Steward were unloading the moving van when they decided to sit down and cool for a while. They had just moved back home after ten years away. Rick took a job with a local law firm and the money was good. As they sit drinking a beer a car pulled up in the drive and a tall muscular black man stepped out.
"Ricky, Ricky Steward, how are you doing?" the man said walking up to the couple, "Don't you remember me? It's Robert Davis, from Franklin High." He said with a wide smile while extending his hand to the thirty four year old lawyer.
Rick stood up and took his large hand, "of course I remember you, Robert. I mean who could forget the star running back, of out graduating class' football team." He said smiling, all the time knowing the star football player would never have talked to the school nerd, but now Rick was a noted lawyer and married to the girl who was a cheerleader and. the home coming queen.
"It's so good to see y'all." The big black man said strolling up to Tonya who was now standing. He took her in his arms and pulled her to him crushing he breast to his hard chest. "We heard y'all were back in town and so I came over to invite y'all to a party tonight."
"We would love to." Ricky said to the man who had his arm draped over his wife's shoulders, "but it'll be late before we get this moving van unloaded and we'll be give out."
"That's no problem." Robert said taking out his cell phone and punching in a few numbers, he spoke with his back to the couple for a short time then turned around "Ok, the guys will be here soon and all you two need do is tell us where to put the stuff." He said smiling. In a few minutes three cars pulled up to the curb and six large black men got out. In two hours the moving van was unloaded and all the couples stuff was put away.
As Robert was leaving he said, "Ok you two get cleaned up and I'll see you tonight, the address is on the coffee table." Then he was gone.
The couple talked about it and decided to get ready and go to the party. They arrived there around seven o'clock, the place was already rocking as Ricky knocked on the door. " Come in come in." Robert said as he opened the door, "you already know most of the people here just follow me to the bar, and I'll get you a drink."
As the walked through the house they saw a lot of people they went to school with, some were friends and some they just knew and a few they didn't remember. When they reached the bar Robert asked, "What are you drinking tonight?" raising his voice so he could be heard over the music.
"I'll have a beer. Tonya will have a white wine." Ricky told the bartender. "Nice place you have here Robert." He continued as he took the drinks and handed his lovely wife her glass. What he didn't see was the look their host gave the bartender who turned his back to them and dropped a couple crystals into the glass of wine.
Robert led the couple across the room reintroducing them old classmates as they went, about half way they ran in to Barbara Tally, one of the girls who was on Tonya's cheerleading squad. Tonya barely recognized her, the once raven haired beauty, who filled out her tight jeans so well in high school, now looked to be a starvation diet, her once sparkling emerald eyes the gems of her beautiful face were a dull green sit in dark cavities. Her hands looked like those of a skeleton.
"Barbie? Is that you?" Tonya asked taking her old friend by the hand, "What happened?"
"IāI've been sick." Barbara answered trying not to look at the couple, Robert, I need to see you." She continued turning her attention to the big black man.
"Ok, ok, wait by the bar." He told her pointing in the direction they had just come. "Just a little business, you two show yourselves around you know most of the people here, I'll be back." He said walking away.
The couple walked around a bit talking to one and then another they couldn't help but notice but most of the people her were black. Soon a man came up to Ricky "hey dude we got a pool table over here come and play a game with us. Rick turned to Tonya, "go ahead I'll just hang out here." She told him. When he was gone she was feeling a little high which she couldn't understand since the only thing she had to drink was the glass of wine "maybe a drink of water will help." She thought.