It was time my friends and I got together again. Luckily, T was able to join us. Ami awaited us in his swanky hat. I didn’t recognize him because he was missing the bowtie. Yet, I liked his new look. The hat was a nice touch. He looked suave and debonair. I adored his hat. It was partly wood. I enjoyed knocking on it. It never failed to amaze me how he could think to be so amusing. What would I do without Ami? I will be bored stiff.

When L came, she looked tired and looked at T tentatively. She asked, “Who?”

“It’s J’s friend.”

Then the smile bloomed on L’s lovely face. “Oh!”

As usual, Ami and I danced around the bar. Two crazies. What joy! T was amused and appeared to enjoy her newly found adulthood. She felt grown up and glamorous around us. We all clinked our glasses and celebrated the coming new year. Be honest, I didn’t’ care about the new year. It was all irrelevant to me. Another year was another year. Nothing really changed. People were asking if I had a resolution, and I replied, “Drink less and make love?” I really needed to give my liver a break, but I am kidding about making love. Unless I suffer the “itch,” it was not necessary. Friends were good. No need to suffer the “itch” for me. Thank goodness.

Interestingly, T was chugging her drinks. Ami dared her to down a shot of liquor and she said, “All right. I can do it.” It was a side to T that I had never seen before. I was rather proud. She was becoming like me—the alky.

Yet, I was a bit aghast too. She had plenty and didn’t need more. If she got sick, it was me who had to help her by following her with a “vomit bucket.” I didn’t need that.  Yet, Ami insisted it will be all right. Darn. He didn’t have to clean after her and didn’t understand.

As Ami and I were busy shaking our “behinds,” T and L were fascinated by a pilot who explained what flying was like. Suddenly L wanted to fly. She was confident that she could do it and wanted us to ride the plane with her as she piloted. However, Ami said, “L, you cannot even parallel park, and yet you want to fly us with you?” We burst out laughing.

“L, you will fly us to our deaths. How funny!” Still laughing I said, “When I want to die, I will ask you to fly us.” I imagined us screaming as L was plummeting us to the ground. It would be grand. What a way to die. Yay! I am almost looking forward to it. So, if you should see a plane full screaming women and one man, it would be our plane. Look out and run for your life.