Forever Thursday

Thursday night had been our routine for a long time.

Chrissy would pick me up around 8 and he would smoke on the entire drive over.

Punkass always said he would be ready when we arrived but kept us hanging for half an hour, finally coming out reeking of Drakkar Noir.

It was either Pearl Jam or U2 on the ride over.

The parking lot was the kind of place where you didn’t want to leave your car at any time of day, not that Chrissy’s car was worth the effort.

Chrissy still left the windows down and glove box open.

Through the entrance and down a series of stairs into the basement, the hall open up and unfolded before us.

Masters of the Universe, Thursdays was play all night for one price.

Punkass would rack the balls, setting them and resetting them a dozen or so time until some specific number in his mind was reached. Chrissy would break first since he drove.

Stale beer, oil soaked fries, and a plate of onion rings were the banquet.

When the hall closed it was a ride down to the waterfront to this one particular park that was always closed.

Entry through a gap in the chain link fence.

The three of us would sit on a wall, a terrifying height to the ocean below.

Taking something for granted assumed one even knew it might end one day.

Some friends were never really friends, but a convenience.

Some friends moved on in life and deliberately left you behind.

Some friends continued to wonder for years why Thursday evenings had to ever change.