When I first started this blog, I made mention of my friend Skye but then never followed up. I'm still not ready to tell the whole story. However, when Brie and I were driving to work one day this week she brought up an incident that had us laughing out loud. So here it is:
One day at work Skye approached me. "Hey, I'm having a birthday party this Saturday. You want to come?" I was shocked at the invitation but there was no way I was turning this down. "Sure, I'd love to come!" "Great! You can meet my new girlfriend." Me to myself UGH! But I'd already accepted and figured I could rope Brie into going with me. "Great!" He gave me directions and told me what time, said it was outside and at night there would be a big bonfire. Great...
So Saturday rolled around and I got a reluctant Brie to come. "I'm only going because it's a barbecue and I want a hot dog," she groused. "Yeah, yeah," I said. I wanted to meet his family and friends and hopefully show up the girlfriend.
It took longer than expected to get there because he lived in a relatively rural area that I wasn't familiar with. "Are you sure we're in the right area? This looks like klan country. " I laughed. "Stop it. Skye wouldn't have us out here in klan country! Just think about the grilled hot dogs!"
Presently we reached the correct address. I went to turn into the driveway. "OH snap!" Brie said. "It looks like a klan meeting!"
I parked, left the car running, and looked around as Brie locked the doors. The attendees, all white, sat in a circle on the lawn, staring at us. I did not see the birthday boy...
Suddenly, someone yanked on my locked door handle! We both screamed, but it was Skye and he was laughing. "Get out of the car!" "No!" Brie replied. I, on the other hand, was probably staring open-mouthed at a shirtless Skye. All abs and rib tattoos and JACKED. None of this had been displayed at work! So you know i unlocked my door for him to open it. Snap!
"Come On Brie," he said. "Let's get you ladies something to eat and you can meet my family." Sounded good to me! Right up until I saw the food display. Unwittingly, I had assumed it was a BBQ because it was outside. Nope! The covered hot tub was holding pizza, salad, veggies, chips: and he reverently showed us the blue bowl of watermelon. Now I'm sure he believed he was being respectful by including the "food of my people" but I didn't dare look at Brie. I don't even remember what we grabbed but as he was leading us to the circle Brie hissed, "Someone owes me a hotdog!"
Long story short: we were introduced to everyone Brie decided that his older sister was the grand wizard. There was a LOT of drinking that went on (not us!) The girlfriend was a wispy insecure thing, and it wasn't helped by Skye spending a lot of time kneeling by my chair talking to me. His mother loved me, which I appreciated but then again I am rather charming, ha ha.
Then at sunset it was time for the big bonfire! We were a bit worried as pretty much everyone was drunk (not us!). But he and his nephew Joe (Brie's eye candy) did it up proper. It was a little disconcerting when they started dancing around it, but at least there wasn't any chanting or hoods! However, since it was dark and we figured it might be a 'sundown town' we decided to leave. Especially since there was no birthday cake!
We thanked them all for having us and bid them a good night. Skye walked us to the car and said, "It wasn't so bad, right?" I agreed and gave him a hug. Brie gave him a look and got in the car. He waved as we drove off and then Brie burst out laughing. "That bowl of watermelon!" she gasped. "Well Im sure he thought it was a nice gesture." "And the grand wizard sitting there in a wife beater and shorts! A bra would have been appreciated!" "Well Brie: it was family so thats what they're used to." "And the dancing: it was like something out of "The Lord of the Flies!" I couldn't help laughing at that one."Okay mom but promise me one thing: if you're ever invited to another of his parties I get to stay home!" "Okay." "And tomorrow you grill up some hot dogs. You owe me!"
Miss you Skye. And the food of my people! 😆
