This is the first story (chronologically) of Ericka McKann, her 18th birthday and she is the youngest person in this story. If you want to imagine her the way I do, I think she looks a lot like the actress Megan West, but is several inches taller.
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It was New Year's Eve. Patrick McKann Jr. was home on leave from the academy for the first time since the summer. But "home" was in a new city. His father left the Boston PD and took a job as a Police Chief in a small town outside of Cleveland. Patrick was missing his friends from Boston. He and his sister had just turned 18 years old. Patrick enjoyed the holidays with his family, but since he didn't know anyone in Ohio he was going a bit stir crazy. One of his classmates, Dwane, invited him to a New Year's Eve party in Cleveland. Patrick wouldn't know anyone else there, but at least it would be with people around his own age. Ericka also didn't know anyone in Ohio. He dad arranged for her to finish the school year in Boston staying with a sergeant he was good friends with. Her dad and brother both had pity on her so she was able to get herself invited by promising to be the designated driver. She was excited about going to a college party, even if it wasn't on campus but at the home of one of the military academy cadets.
Picking out the right outfit to wear wasn't that difficult a choice, she didn't have many options. Her best outfit was a simple red off the shoulder dress. Her father never would have bought it for her, but she had worked as a Santa's elf in the mall and with the 2 inch faux-fur lining around the hem and collar line the dress had been relatively modest. Now that she had removed the faux-fur the dress was much more 'elegant' and shorter. The bright red color also made it very festive. She also wore the red, half-cup strapless bra and the red cotton panties that she wore with it for work. She left off the green tights and the pointy ears. But, with the temperature in the 20's and only getting colder, she wore her heavy coat, snow boots and wool socks which she will remove when she arrives. She carried a pair of flats, not much more than ballet slippers, to put on at the party. At her height she didn't need the extra height of heels. Ericka put on her makeup and made sure she was wearing the coat already when they were ready to leave. Patrick Sr. Pulled his son aside. "You're 18 now, so go out there, have fun, get drunk and get laid, but don't get anyone pregnant." He handed his son a 3-pack of condoms. Then he turned to Ericka, "Be a good girl, and remember your mother, God rest her soul, is watching over you so don't drink and don't embarrass your mother."
On the way to the party it was just Ericka and her brother in the car. Once they were on the road and their father was out of earshot Patrick Jr. told her that this was no high school dance. She could expect there to be drinking and pot and probably even some sex. But like Vegas, what happens at the party, stays at the party.