Ditch Day

There is a part of the high school grounds where it is easy to slip out. Buff Velasquez, Fonz Martinez, and Soury Roi went to that area during lunch one day. They scaled the fence where it was the shortest and decided to go to Griffith Park.  

They went to the carousel, talking about nothing consequential. They settled in a secluded spot near the bushes, hills, and trees. Soury rummaged in his backpack and took a bottle of wine from his parent’s liquor cabinet and their flimsy travel corkscrew. They wouldn’t miss them.

The cork broke apart when Soury tried to pull it out. He had to dig the remains out of the neck. He took the first drink, spitting out little specks of cork, then passed the bottle to Buff. Fonz lighted a cigarette and gave one to Soury. Buff didn’t smoke.

After his drink, Buff gave the bottle to Fonz. Soury blew out a stream of smoke, then coughed viciously, holding a hand over his mouth, trying to regain his composure. Buff watched him with interest. They talked as each boy took turns with the wine, but nothing worth remembering. 

After a while, Fonz clutched the bottle by the neck, staring out, his cigarette sending angelic coils around his head. What was he thinking about? Was it kind? There might have been a joke about bogarting the vino. Was it Buff? Soury? Fonz looked at each boy, smiled, and gave Soury the bottle. 

Soury took a long pull and breathed in. He looked past the vegetation in front of him towards the rooftop of the old carousel, scenes of his childhood playing out in front of his tired eyes. He remembered the colorful horses, the old marching songs playing out of the Stinson Military Band Organ, the smell of popcorn and churros coming out of the concession stand, and two-fifty for either one and a Pepsi. He wondered where the time went as he gave Buff the bottle. 

Buff took his drink and examined the bottle. The wine was almost gone, with only a tiny drop left, not enough for them. He sighed, poured the remains on the ground, and tossed the bottle into the bushes behind them. He sat back down, thoughts of escape running through his head. Would they forgive him if he tried? Buff wondered as he waited for Fonz and Soury to finish their cigarettes. 

After their indulgences, the three boys sat as a warm, pleasurable glow emanated through their bodies. They had the rest of the day but needed to figure out how to spend it as it should be.