Party Time

Left early, your absence was so present. It was a heavy scene, hard to keep up the happy pretense. "Give her a triple!" they said, "The house special!" "I'll have rum and coke" I said, smiling widely. They toasted me in warm praise...I told them how well things were going without you, except that the plumbing's tone bad and last week the wind blew the top off the patio you helped build, and your dog had run away again. We chuckled and they all promised to give a helping hand, apologizing for not keeping in touch...these are busy times you know. God! The looked handsome in their uniform dress, standing teary eyed, like before, when they saluted you that final time, sorrow still sucking everyone in like quicksand. Wish I'd worn something fancy - black is so cold, another reminder, I thought. "Another toast!" someone said and chanted, "Here's to us! Who's like us?" "Damned few, and they'er all dead!" Then the clinking of glasses - laughter - a heavy scene. "Another round!" someone yelled, "it's Party Time! The next time, I'll ask for a raincheck!" Cynthia