It was one of those summertime backyard BBQs full of family, friends, and some random people from the neighborhood.
Chrissy's girlfriend Liz had invited me, and for the past two weeks he had been rather insistent, checking in on me to make sure I was going to come.
I arrived on time and I could feel the wave of relief rolling off Chrissy.
After a few introductions to family and saying hello, I made my way back to Chrissy as we drank some beer and tossed some lawn darts at large ring on the other side of the lawn.
Soon Mike had joined us, or as we called him Little Mikey as he was eight years younger than us.
Chrissy found him annoying, I remembered what it felt like to be that age and wanting to hang with the older guys.
I preferred to encourage him.
We let him take a few throws before his mom called him back over to the table, and with that pause Chrissy excused himself to go grab another pack of cigarettes from his car.
I figured I looked silly standing off to the side holding some lawn darts, so I grabbed a drink and found myself a free chair at the table.
Sitting between two aunts and Liz's older brother I tried to keep up with the conversation talking in a mix of English and Spanish, along with some made up words that sounded right to me.
That at least got a few genuine laughs from the table.
When Liz's brother got up, a girl I hadn't met yet slipped into the seat and without knowing it Liz was right next to me asking where Chrissy was.
She didn't seem interested in the reply as she introduced me to the girl.
Her cousin.
We were both in college.
She was quiet and it took a bit to warm up.
I asked her if she wanted something more to drink, and she told me she was fine.
Light conversation about music and what the summer was like so far.
A few times Mikey passed by as if he wanted to sit with us.
Did I smoke?
I told her no and left it at that, preferring not to get into the fact that my teacher wouldn't have allowed it.
It was then that she dropped it.
That she was going to college to be a mortician.
The silence after that was her waiting for the response, and I think she was surprised when I didn't have the one she was used to.
My response was that people study all sorts of things, and there is enough room for all of it in the world.
I could have told her that all I wanted to do with my life was practice budo, spending most of my time doing just that, and that I happened to live in the dojo.
That would have been weird, so instead I asked her about it.
Genuinely.
In a way it was kind of interesting, and I could appreciate her commitment to it.
I had lost track of the hours when her mother came over and politely apologized that they had to go.
At least that was what I sort of understood in Spanish.
Now with the party winding down, Mikey wanted one last round of lawn darts, but before I could get up Liz sat down next to me unable to contain her curiosity.
What did I think of Janet?
Apparently, everybody at the party knew except me.
Depending on who you asked, the story was different each time.
Sometimes it was witches living in a house on the hill.
Other times, something about an ancient burial ground at the end of the road.
Albinos seemed to be a recurring theme.
Was any of it true?
Chrissy's girlfriend Liz wanted to find out, and if he was going, that meant I was going also.
It also had to be on a Friday the 13th, which happened to be this Friday.
Plans were set and made.
Janet was going to be there also.
It was and wasn't quite a double date.
That Friday evening, Chrissy was outside leaning on the horn, waiting for me to come out, as we were now going to be late and he didn't want to hear anything from Liz.
Normally, my wardrobe selects itself, but this time it was different.
If something crazy was going to happen, how did I want to look?
Thirty minutes later, I settled on the usual: blue jeans, a T-shirt, and my leather jacket.
Constancy.
I hopped in the car, and Chrissy understood without asking.
I rarely wear my Thundercats T-shirt.
When we picked the girls up, I switched to the back seat with Janet, and I tried not to look at her.
Why?
The car was small, compact, and the back seats were more like an oversized single seat. There was no way for our shoulders and legs not to touch.
That's what I told myself.
Once Chrissy got off the highway and started weaving through the back roads, that is when we all seemed to realize just how dark things were on the road.
No cars.
No houses.
No streetlights.
The road itself was unremarkable, just like any other country road, but when Liz spotted the house, the mood shifted.
I felt Janet move just a little closer.
When Chrissy pulled over and cut the engine, there was a sudden feeling of vulnerability.
The car engine, Pearl Jam, and the conversation in the car were replaced by silence.
Liz was the first to get out, followed by Chrissy, myself, and Janet.
There was a low rock wall to the side of the road, overlooking a large field, and just beyond the field, in the distance, one could just make out the moving headlights from the cars on the parkway.
We sat on the rock wall, myself, Chrissy, Janet, and Liz.
A few minutes of silence.
Was something supposed to happen?
Liz wanted to walk across the field, see what was on the other side, something about the ancient burial site or something.
Chrissy flipped on the headlights to the car, illuminating a path halfway across the field.
Were we coming?
I could see Janet hesitating a bit as she sat on the wall and glanced at Liz.
I offered: maybe Janet and I would stay here and keep an eye on the car.
Chrissy flashed me a hidden smile.
Eventually, the two vanished across the darkness of the field, and I was left sitting on the wall with Janet.
Was I scared?
I was.
She was surprised by my answer.
I laughed and told her that probably wasn't what she wanted to hear right now, but it was true.
Sitting on a stone wall overlooking a haunted road at 11 PM on Friday the 13th, not much more to add to that.
But I was glad we could sit here and be scared together.
That earned me a smile.
When Chrissy and Liz returned, Chrissy was the first to see our outline just outside of the car lights, and I could see he was puzzled to find us just sitting on the wall together.
Liz was disappointed.
No haunting.
No secret burial ground.
No albinos.
Back in the car, how about the Nautilus for dinner?
When Chrissy turned the key, the car just clicked, and the battery warning light came on.
The headlights.
It was the best plan that Chrissy and I could think of, given that we were in a dead zone with no reception, and knocking on the door of the house on the hill was out.
Liz in the driver's seat, Janet next to her.
Car in neutral.
Chrissy and I pushing the car down the road till we hit the exit with the gas station or got reception.
He asked if I thought they could hear us.
Looking through the rear window, Liz and Janet were leaning in close, talking to each other, and I was confident they couldn't.
Did I like her?
Liz was going to ask him later, and he needed an answer.
Slacking for a moment as we pushed together, I had to think if I wanted to give him that.
It wouldn't just be telling Liz that later; Chrissy could never keep a secret or pass any type of loyalty test.
I told him the truth.
I did.
10 AM.
Deep breath.
Make the call.
Maybe after lunch.
2 PM.
Right now.
Do it.
The Greek Festival on Saturday night.
It's a date.
I was sitting on a low wall by the entrance to the festival when I saw her.
Janet.
Long dark black hair and a friendly smile when our eyes met.
I waved so she wouldn't miss me and got up to greet her as she gave me a small hug in return.
This was going to be a great night as we were finally alone.
And then she politely introduced me to her brother who was standing behind her.
Eduardo.
Right away I could tell that he was both unhappy to be here and equally unhappy that I was here.
His handshake confirmed it.
We started with some rides which were awkward and not quite what I had in mind. Eduardo either rode in the car with us, or made his presence known waiting by the side, his eyes locking on mine each time the ride completed past him.
After the fourth ride I had to mentally step back and ask myself.
If I had a younger sister, would I do the same thing.
Probably.
Actually, yes.
With a handful of tickets left Janet wanted to try out some games.
The ring toss, hoops, and darts, it was fun to see her competitive side and to both share some laughs, which Eduardo didn't find funny.
For a few moments I had almost forgotten he was there until he remarked it was getting late and she had to be home by 9.
Understood.
I had two tickets left and asked Janet if she wanted to go one last ride.
The giant Ferris wheel in the center of the festival.
Yes.
When it was our turn to board the next car, I excused myself for a moment to speak with the ride operator.
We settled into the gondola as the door closed and the wheel began its ascent. The music and lights of the festival, along with Eduardo's watchful stare, slowly faded beneath us.
At the top, the wheel came to a stop and Janet's hand instinctively reached for my arm.
For that minute or so, it was just the two of us alone under the night sky.
When the wheel started its descent, I noticed her hand was still resting on my arm.
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