Or

“Oh, you mean you want a full key?”

 

The evening starts like any other. Sitting around, no weed, no girls, beer running out. Then, a genius idea.

“Let’s get a pony keg.”

”Who’s gonna pay for it?”

”All the people you’ve been calling to cancel the last party.”

Time passes. Beer arrives and suddenly, there’s a party. Now let me explain my situation in this whole mess…

 

I met this kid at a party before the New Year. Actually, I was talking to this other cat when he approached me before he left. I saw this guy standing alone and was like, “I can break that kid.”

But then Chris interrupted me and he walked away.

Chris was definitely cooler the next time I caugth up with him. A busted night overall, but I did catch the end of a session, which is good.

I left town. He called. I got back in town. I called. I was supposed to leave town again, but since I wasn’t and he knew about a party…

Well, you can see it from there. Only it turns out there is no party. So when the idea of a pony keg came up, everyone assumed it was just to hit before going downstairs.

That was wrong.

At most parties, I try too get around, smile at random people, hop in and out of conversations. But I’m always positive it didn’t really go down that way this time. Mostly cuz I got to sit down with Chris. Turns out he’s a writer, but a lot more willing to share his work than I am.

Really beautiful poetry. Moving stuff and other adjectives you use to describe poetry. Well, it was about that time, give or take a session. The key was drying up. I was sitting on the deck at the time.

”We’re running out of beer. Are you cool to drive?”

”Yeah, do you need me to?”

”No, but my roommate needs someone to go with him.”

”Sure, I’ll go.”

 

I’m figuring the ride will do me good, cuz at this point, I’m gone. So me and Chris (go figure) go out in the monsoon and get into his truck. The liquor stores are closed, but lo and behold, the gas station around the corner sells kegs.

College city, I guess. But they don’t have pony kegs.

“Check the Texaco down the block.”

As we pull in, Chris recognizes somebody and when inside, they start to talk.

”So I just came from those fights that (sp) entered.”

”Yeah, how was it.?”

”Cool, he won his fight. But he’s not going back tomorrow. He had to wait.”

”Hey, are you talking about those fights going on?”

”Yeah, I was just there.”

”Yeah, I was supposed to be in that fight but…”

I’m sure the importance of what he said would take precedent in this if he didn’t continue to speak…

”Well, we got a party going on at my place. That’s why we’re out. We need a keg.”

”You need a key, huh?”

”Yeah, do you know…”

”Yeah, well I know of two right now. One’s at Beech Street and there’s another. You know, your best bet is to wait for a party to break up.”

”Yeah, that’s why we need the keg.”

”Oh, so you need a full keg. I can get you an empty one.”

 

Now maybe it was the atmosphere or the wording or the fact he fit the description of someone who’d taken too many punches. Who know

We returned to the party, which had become a gathering with four 12-packs. I found my way to the back room, where a session was being discussed. Instead, Chris and Ian picked up guitars and I was treated to an impromptu concert.

Which leads to my arrogance.

I believe, for no real reason, that I know a couple of things. That being said, I think I know talent when I see it. Or better yet, when I hear it. You don’t see much of it, but this whole Midas thing is starting to make more sense.

It’s not necessary my touch as it is a touch that I reflect off of; like a ripple in a pool. Consider me the stone, but the ripples are full of talent and happiness and prosperity.

Things which I feel I either lack or have yet to have had enough to. But there are certain things that I feel I know…