You may recognize Sara from the Father's Day stories I have posted. What those stories don't tell you is about the first time I had unfettered access to Sara's body........ Without her knowledge!
'Honey,' my wife said from across the room, 'it's getting late, can you go get Sara? She was supposed to call, and I can't reach her. She should be home by now.......' Echoing my concerns, after all, this is a school night!
Sara had run out a few hours before to her friend Megan's house for a mid-week study party. I had no delusions that they were doing much studying, more likely getting stoned and drinking crappy booze. Lately my wife had taken to prodding me to walk in on her anytime we suspected she was out of line, Sara needed to know there were limits to the freedom any high schooler could have, even if she was 18!
'Ok Shelley,' I replied. 'Give me a sec and I will run over and see if I can find her.'
Megan lives about 15 minutes away, not in the best part of town, but not bad either. Her street is darker than the others around it, mostly because the streetlights are blocked by several mature trees. This leaves Megan's house shrouded in darkness once the sun goes down, giving the teenagers more freedom to hang out in the yard without fear of being seen.
I can't understand why her parents allow the kids to drink. Allowing underage drinking is pretty scary, could get an adult in a lot of trouble, but I guess that's why all the parties go down there, and not at our house.
As I am about to turn onto her cul-de-sac I can see several people milling around on the front lawn, which gives me a thought. Why announce myself by driving up? Might be more interesting to walk in and see what is happening first hand. So, instead of turning in, I drive by and park half a block up.
I feel odd walking up to a party like this; I don't feel all that old myself. Seems like I should be joining it, not busting it!
The kids out front look dazed; they hardly look at me as I walk by. I guess they think I am just another partier, the dim light hiding my age, the hoodie I am wearing nearly matching those worn by a number of them.
It isn't much lighter inside, and the air is tinged with smoke. 'yup' I said under my breath 'stoned out of their minds.'
Once inside the scene would be funny if it wasn't so pathetic. The first person I see is a girl, god knows how old lying flat on her back in the entry, clearly passed out. Her tight black jeans are soaked, and her blouse is twisted around like it was put on backwards. Looks like she had a good night, but is in for a rough morning! Not my problem, clearly not Sara.
A couple of other kids are making out on the couch, oblivious to everything around them, the guy has his feet up on another passed out teenager sprawled on the ground in front of him. I can see that the girl has long blond hair, also not Sara. Good.
Since the scene is so weird I figure I might as well blend in a bit, so I pull the hood of my sweatshirt over my head, now I look like one of the other guys I can just barely see holding himself up against the kitchen counter. I can only just see his upper torso, his back is to me with a counter blocking his lower half. Looks like he is moving a bit, maybe to the crappy music blaring out of the iPod dock next to him.