Wayla and Katie left Christian's party after the towering fire sculpture fell into a heap of flames at midnight. The party had been wild, and they were getting worn out. As they were leaving, a guy, good-looking, beginning to bald, wearing a neutral colored sweater and jeans, waved at them to signal them to stop and roll down their window. He asked for a ride.
"Where?" Wayla asked.
"Anywhere near downtown Charlottesville," he said.
Wayla and Katie exchanged glances. "I'm legit," he said, and gave a smile. Katie nodded to Wayla - she figured she'd seen enough non-legit people to know one from a legit one. "Okay," Wayla agreed.
She hopped in and pulled the lever to lean the seat forward, so he could climb in the backseat of the coup. "Thanks," he said.
"What's your name?" Katie inquired.
"Anthony."
"I'm Katie."
"Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you."
"I'm Wayla," said Wayla.
"That's a unique name," Anthony said. "Where's it from?"
"Well, I had hippie parents," Wayla half-explained.
There was an awkward silence as they pulled out onto the dirt drive. Anthony shifted his weight uncomfortably. "Sorry, I'm making noise," he said. "It's this styrofoam wrapper. I had a sandwich before I came, and I didn't know what to do with the wrapper...."
"Oh," Katie said, politely.
A car was coming at them up the driveway. Most of the drive was lined with cars, but they found a space to pull over to let the other car by. "That was lucky we had that space to pull over right when we needed it."
"It's funny how that happens, you know? And I've driven a lot of one-lane roads in my life," Anthony pondered. "Metaphorically."
Katie and Wayla laughed. "Oh yeah?"
Another awkward pause. Anthony shifted his weight, and the styrofoam squeaked. "Sorry, this styrofoam."
"It kinda sounds like you're wearing vinyl pants," Katie laughed.
Wayla said helpfully, "I have a thing of trash right here if you want to just put it in there. That's fine."
Anthony deposited his trash in her container.
Another awkward pause.
"So... how do you know Christian?" Wayla asked.
"Oh, he and I go way back," said Anthony. "He and I have a love-hate relationship."
Katie laughed. "Seems like he somehow fosters those."
"As in he loves himself, and I hate him."
Katie and Wayla couldn't help but laugh. "Wow."
"Well, actually, you know, we used to not get along, but now things are cool between us, I think. I just try to keep some distance between me and Christian's ridiculousness," Anthony posited.
They laughed again. "Yes, Christian embraces ridiculousness," Katie affirmed.
"So, how about you guys. How do you know Christian?"
"Well, I don't know him that well," Wayla said. "Our friend Jess is in the fire troupe, so we know him through her."
"Yeah, same here," Katie said. "I enjoy Christian's love of creativity and ridiculousness, but I like being able to enjoy it from a distance, I guess."
Another awkward pause.
"So, can you guys keep a secret?" Anthony asked. "Are you good secret keepers?"
"I guess so, yeah," they assented.
"You can't tell anyone."
"Okay...."
He paused for dramatic effect.
"I stole a burrito."
Katie and Wayla burst out laughing.
"I went into the house a little while ago. I was really hungry. And I ate half a burrito that I found there. There was all this amazing fire dancing and all I could think about was how hungry I was. So, I went into the house and opened the fridge and ate a burrito I found there."
Katie and Wayla couldn't stop laughing.
"It was really weird," he continued. "Christian's mom came out and asked what I was doing. I had just finished eating the burritio. But, I said 'Nothing'. And she said, 'Well, the party's that way,' and pointed out to the field. I was just standing there holding the styrofoam box. I didn't know what to do with it, so I folded it up and put it in my pocket. I realized that since I had deteriorated to stealing burritos, I needed to leave, so I walked out and asked you guys for a ride. That's why I had the styrofoam box."
"Wow, and then you lied to us about it when you got in!" Wayla burst out incredulously. "And now we are... accessories in your burrito crime!"
Another awkward pause.
"So, do you guys have any secrets?" Anthony asked.
"Ummmm...." they pondered.
"Not really," Wayla said.
"I have one," Katie declared. "Were you there for the burlesque?"
"Yeah, for part of it," Anthony answered. "But, I got really grossed out when the guy asked the men if they had boners, and I was like, um, no, I want a burrito."
They all laughed.
"Yeah, I agree, it made me really uncomfortable," Katie said.
Anthony said, "Yeah, me, too. I can't put my finger on why it made me uncomfortable. I didn't like the guy who introduced them.... it just seemed like a strip tease- more dressed up, but still, that's what it was."
"Well, I would've liked guys to have done a strip tease down to pasties on their nipples, just to make a point. That's my secret, I guess."
"Yes, there is irony in everyone in the arts scene who wouldn't normal watch something like that watching it, and I see that appeal. But, still... it is what it is," Anthony thought.
"Yeah...."
"That's when I decided to go get the burrito, and then get this ride back, which has turned out to be one of the best parts of the night."
"Agreed!" they laughed.
"Where do you want me to drop you?" Wayla asked, as she neared downtown.
"Well, anywhere. Hey, are you guys going home, or are you going to go somewhere else, like a bar?" Anthony asked.
"Mmmm, no, we're going home to sleep," Katie said definitively.
"Well, I guess you can drop me near The Box; I'll probably go there."
Wayla drove another block and pulled over at the corner where the bar was. Katie got out to let Anthony out. They smiled at each other, gave an awkward hug. "Have a great night."
Anthony crossed the street, leaving his secret burrito confession in the confines of Wayla's car, without penitence.
Labels: short stories (some true) and tall tales
