Sugar bowl
The day started out kinda dreary without a firm plan of where i would spend the night. My dad wasn’t going to go for Sammy’s place as we knew he wouldn’t fall for that again. I was really stuck. Kikie was going to be there that night and i couldn’t get her out of my head. she sat in front of me 2nd row right in Mrs McDonald’s class and we had been passing notes to me for sometime. Me Tarzan you Jane. I was so excited about Friday night at Sugar Bowl.
Getting back to the plan. Well we knew it was going to be a huge night out. Everyone at GBHS was talking about it, invited, or was going. It had to be half the school it seems. Not knowing exactly where I was going to I was worried I wouldn’t be able to go. ‘Dude, you figure out what you’re telling your dad yet?’ Sammy, Tim, Jamie would ask me incessantly knowing they had to be part of the hoodwinkery. We all had skin in the game from day one of our alliance of friendship and bond. Don’t rat. Ensure Dr. Yonehiro had a clear conscious in knowing his son was not going to be running amuck. This was not the first time we had to work collectively. We had passed through several gauntlets before however for some reason this seemed to be much larger task than before.
3rd period passed and I remember thinking how badly I wanted class to finally be over. Luckily Fridays are our shortened half day so not much longer. No plan in sight yet though. Ashley would still give me and Sam a ride home. You know the Moron who liked to fuck. It was atrocious looking back at it now needing to sneak to have sex. it doesn’t seem right as a young person with all your capacity of finding your inner sexual experiences to sneak around and sleep with each other in unorthodox places - ie not the bed.
Alright that was enough of Ashley. Man I miss that dude though. He had a sick trans am that he would slide on turns. He was a senior and his girl Courtney were together. She was super cute. I was kinda jealous but no need to dwell there. He would doll himself up after parking in the school lot - flip down the visor mirror, couple pumps of hairspray and a turn or two of the comb and he was done. Alfonso surfer style Ray bans included.
Walking to last period of the day, I passed my buddy Kurt R who was headed to Latin. ‘Braugh what are you doing?’
‘hey man what’s up?’ i replied. ‘just wondering what you’re up to tonight. Sammy mentioned Sugar Bowl and trying to figure out plans.’ Kurt quickly blurted. ‘Donno, man. I’ve got to figure something out. Sounds like it’s gonna be an epic nite.’ I chirped in reply. ‘listen, just say you’re crashing at my house and i’ll cover. My folks are out of town. No biggie.’ Kurt revealed and uncovered my long sought reprieve of freedom from Narvaez. It was a dream. Me Tarzan.
‘Ok man, I’m down. I guess I’ll see you out there then?’ I quipped with the first bell sounding. ‘Sweet, man. See you.’ Kurt R rebutted.
So it was set. No need for the Three Amigos (four really) to intervene now. It was all about next steps —> ensuring Jane and all the party favors were in place. That’s where my boyz came into play, though we need there was another variable on the set, Kikie’s ex, another Kurt.
4th period ended without much fanfare as we knew all to regroup at my place on the Beach beforehand. I caught Sammy at my locker. ‘Bro, I’m good tonite.’ I informed him.
‘Oh yeah, how so?’ S
‘Kurt R said i could crash at his place’ JY
‘Oh shit. That’s awesome. You know I gotta go meet that guy to get everything together so i’ll see you at your place around 5ish’ S
‘Sounds good. You talk to Kikie?’ JY
‘Yeah she’s cool. I don’t know about anything else going on but I’m sure you’re good man’ S
‘Aight. I guess.’ JY
I still didn’t feel confident of that comment We were about to embark on this next chapter, journey, trip whatever you wanted to call it and i was nervous. This was my first time.
So i met Ashley at his car and jumped headed to our favorite quick bite, Hardee’s. Given proximity and decent menu - chicken was better than their burgers and i’m not sure what to call their fried but decent either way - couple of buckets later we were over the Beach Bridge to a sight we saw everyday Pcola Beach and its splendor. Looking right over the western skyline you’d see jettison’s of images splashing across the peaking swells and maybe a barge or two if time was right. Dolphins were not that easy to spot but getting out on those Seadoo you could catch a pod with with neonates if you were lucky. Getting further in the picture as you road the bridge to its apex and the thumping of the ridges between the pavement grew in unison, you’d crest over the top and over look a the splendor island that be Escambia merging from Santa Rosa
mearing off to the right was a little EPA subset and low and behind the wonder of it all. Mr. Narvaez. Easy to see with the naked eye it had that Asiatic look with stain glass that I’m sure Dr. Yonehiro craved. No one home though. Typical of those pondering the latch key kid experiences of yonder. Seems to be an ill forgotten momento of society now. We can all evaluate that together maybe.
Ok reaching the toll gate, ‘Ashley, you coming out tonite with us?’ I quipped. ‘Naw man I have a church thing to go to you know. Not me gig either.’ He quickly rebutted. I knew he knew what was up. He wasn’t dumb. He hadn’t ventured out with the young lads that the group of us had formed but i’m sure he had an idea of what may be next for me and the Slam.
After getting dropped off at 100 I found my lovely Sky leukemia ridden cat waiting for me. It was not that healthy and didn’t like to be held much. Someone had thought it be a nice surprise for me and of course it has cancer. Go fucking figure.
It was a decent cat. don’t get me wrong. it had its pleasantries and some odd smell from what Ms New Yonehiro had applied. It was not my fave. Walking thru the front door and resetting the alarm, you would find yourself in this mirror lambrinyth of sorts getting up stairs gave you kinda of a buzz. It felt like walking thru a quick carnival ride where you were then finding yourself atop the ocean over looking what you had triumphed just 20 minutes before - Beach Bridge to the right and a clear sight of EPA Island. it was a pretty view, one that Dr. Yonehiro took great pride in. No one would agree it wasnt stellar, however not sure you could substitute other views. Osprey, fishing, jet skiing, it was lovely, all the toys and fun a 15 yo kid could dream of really. but alas finding yourself home alone and thinking fondly of how the fuck to get out had been my goal — SB.
The plan continued to prosper as at least with no one home I would have free rein on the telecoms. The one asset in the jeweled home of satellite, cameras, and limited access to all things bball that was for fucking sure. ‘Pick you up at 6’ was the last direction for the evening event I had remembered -
walking further up the stairs I found myself in my pink abode. Nothing quite like arriving to a fully furnished room that was never quite designed for me. It was a trundle bed that could be tucked nicely underneath itself but was Godly uncomfortable. Twins with a middle ridge that was never quite right. And being on the 3rd floor gave proof to the panhandle sun.
Switching on the fan and kicking on the 2nd ac in the house I wondered what to prepare for. ‘Hey dad, ummm I’m gonna stay with kurt R tonite, ok?’ I would rehearse in my head. Suffice it to say, I had asked many times and been denied over those very words with the last being newly hatched i knew it would potentially cross favor with the good ole doc. He had always balked at certain folks - always looking for a culprit in the mix - demeaning as well - ‘You gonna hang out with Shithead again?’ he would provoke. It wasn’t unknown his feeling for certain kind and it was mostly likely propagated by past fervent emotions growing up a little Japboy in LA. He didn’t really understand that certain tone and disrespecting language would rub off around him. Negative in thought or suspicious in nature he was revered still as the Doc. Coach Doc. He had formed a legacy of sorts early on by his hard work and prowess on the OR table. Not sure how that turned out for him with my mom though as he was turning heads in the hospital hallways and finally found his refuge in the SKY of sorts. But I had seen the merry go round and known it to be too good for him. This new one got a new red BMW convertible though. My mom was still driving the Tank. Didn’t seem quite fair or right for some reason. He lessened those he cared about with toughness and so called Jap grit and extended himself to those he didn’t even know. Kinda reverse mentality when it came to family and here I was trying to give it a go. Still no one home and I can’t wait to escape.
The night was meant to be a camping trip. Simple fact thought it was much bigger than that. Fantasizing about what could be and what was planned were obviously two different areas of the spectrum. Hence ensuring I had leverage to be out all night was critical. ‘Yes, Dad, his parents are home’ would always be the answer in rebuttal to Coach Doc’s obvious interrogations of whether or not he would grant his approval of my night out. It always seemed to be a ploy and game. Cat and mouse. What is he really asking me and what do I really say?
‘Sammy, when are you picking me up?’ I inquired quickly while looking across the water through the immense window glass living room portal. ‘I donno. Maybe 6?’ Sammy answered without any hint of exactly what was to come next. ‘Ok, I’ll be ready. “ my reply in that instinctual moment. I wasn’t sure exactly how this would all work you know. You set certain expectations in your head and then you absorb the reality of what’s in front you you. It’s a the reality I was desiring to find other paths. This house, this car, this thing, this boat, this picture, this and that. I really couldn’t give two fucks at the time. I had only those imaginative thoughts of embracing, you know, Jane. Hell yeah. She’d be over the dunes looking super sexy in that moonlight siloquette. I was craving those ideas and imaginations. As real as I wanted them to become I had planned to orchestrate somewhat ritualistic notions where we would find ourselves to love, fuck, and all the forever after shit. God knows how even in those most naive yet unforgiving moments in lifetimes that you could almost reach back and bring them back to life. Jane and me Tarzan, eh.
Ok not getting ready for the escape…I need to make the call. Dad just expects me to be home and there really isn’t any plan other than him working. Dawg style. He did have that ability. 10 hours on a table non stop, no food. Sewing people up. Murder cycle style.