24. “Kids In America”
Chapter 24
“Kids In America”
Taz - Age 18, 1988
S itting in the sleek limo with my friends, I feel on top of the world. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that I’d be able to spend this night with my closest friends and Gram. It was a wonderful surprise, all orchestrated by the dark-haired beauty beside me.
As we make our way to the event, I can’t help but feel drawn to Sascha. She’s been on my mind all week. The desire to pull her into my lap and inhale her fragrance, etching it into my memory forever, is almost overwhelming. But she’s not ready for that kind of relationship yet.
Right now, we were in a strange gray zone, somewhere between friendship and more. We aren’t officially dating, but there’s something more between us. It’s like being a secret friend with benefits, a dynamic I never thought would bother me until now. With Sascha, it’s complicated. She’s everything I never knew I wanted, yet someone who may be out of reach.
As the year draws to a close, it’s not lost on me that her reluctance to start something serious might be due to the time of year. Or maybe that has nothing to do with it. Maybe it’s as simple as my own shortcomings. My personality doesn’t fit into the edgy, artistic mold she’s been attracted to in the past. Instead, I’m an athlete and a goofball by nature. Maybe that’s enough for a casual fling but not for a committed relationship.
Suddenly, Landry’s voice cuts through my thoughts, breaking me out of my self-doubt. Thankful for the distraction, I turn to face him.
“Hey Taz, did you remember to bring some drinks?” he asks eagerly.
I force a strained smile; my hands tremble with nerves. “Yep. Had to do some serious shoulder tapping, but I managed to get what we need.” My mind flashes back to the liquor store parking lot, filled with apprehension and the trepidation of asking strangers for alcohol. Most people turned a blind eye; some even yelled at me in disgust. But eventually, after an hour of persistence and offering extra cash, someone agreed to help us.
Considering my family’s history of alcohol abuse, I try not to drink too often. But tonight is a special occasion—we’re staying on Kerri’s property in a barn, so I thought it would be okay to let loose a little. After all, that was the plan for the night—to have fun and forget our worries.
The dance is like any typical high school event—blaring music from a DJ, colorful balloons and streamers, and a hired photographer.
We all gathered for a group photo, posing in the classic prom stance. However, to my surprise, Sascha purposely positioned herself in front of Landry while Kerri subtly stepped in front of me.
It’s no secret that Landry has been crushing on Kerri for a while now, so this move seems intentional and calculated. I can’t help but feel a pang of discomfort as we pose for the picture as just friends (aside from Corey and Ivy, who are sickeningly cute), knowing the complicated dynamics at play here.
The girls’ actions may be their way of ensuring we know where we stand with them. It threatens to pull me back into my funk, but I’m able to shake it off and eventually find myself having a surprisingly enjoyable time at the dance.
The boys and I huddle together, discussing our years playing hockey and our plans for the future. We sway along to the upbeat songs, letting loose and enjoying each other’s company. As a slow song begins to play, I look at Landry with uncertainty.
“Are you going to ask Kerri to dance?” I cautiously raise the question, my eyes squinting as I wait for a fist to pound my face. But instead of anger, all I hear is a low chuckle from my friend.
He shrugs nonchalantly. “I don’t want to push my luck,” he responds.
“Why not ask Bell?” he suggests.
I shake my head. “Same reason you won’t ask Daisy Duke.”
He nods in understanding. “Ah, gotcha. Well, go ahead and ask her. Just make sure to keep your hands off her ass, or you’ll be kissing your hockey career goodbye.”
“Good talk,” I mutter before walking away and smoothly gliding over to the group of girls. Sascha’s eyes widen in surprise as she sees me approaching. With a charming smile, I address the group of ladies before me. “Hello, ladies,” I say in a suave tone. “Kerri, would you do me the honor of dancing with me?”
I can see the surprise in Kerri’s widened eyes as she turns to look at Sascha for approval. A faint blush spreads across Sascha’s chest as she tries to maintain a composed expression. When Sascha offers her a small smile, Kerri smiles and extends her hand to me.
As the lively music fills the air, I take Kerri’s hand and guide her onto the dance floor. A crowd of people surrounds us, swaying to the beat, but my eyes keep drifting back to Sascha on the other side of the room. She narrows her eyes at me, a clear message that she won’t forget my actions tonight.
But I push those thoughts aside as I focus on Kerri. “Are you having fun?” I ask over the loud music.
“I am,” she says with a grin, her adorable twang adding to her charm. “It’s a nice break from working on the farm.”
“Tell me about the farm,” I say, hoping to steer the conversation away from Sascha. But it turns out to be a wrong move, as Kerri spends the rest of our dance telling me about her grandparents’ farm and its daily operations. It sounds less like a typical farm and more like an animal sanctuary for disabled pets.
When Kerri shares a story about her grandmother’s favorite chicken named Betty Davis Thighs, I can’t help but laugh until tears fill my eyes. By the end of our dance, I’m convinced this girl is the perfect match for Landry. He needs someone sweet and innocent like Kerri to balance out his quiet and introspective nature.
The rhythmic beats of the music begin to slow as the dance winds down. We go to the parking lot, where our cars await us after the limo ride.
I’m driving Sascha and Sarah in my truck, while Kerri is likely entertaining the others with stories from her farm in Delzy's car.
As we drive, I meet Sarah’s eyesthrough the rearview mirror and ask, “Did you have a good time tonight?”
Her face lights up as she exclaims, “I did! My feet are killing me from all the dancing.”
I then turn to Sascha and ask, “And you, Sash? Did you have a good time?”
She looks at Sarah, who is now absentmindedly gazing out the window, and then reaches over to squeeze my knee as she says, “I did. But the night is still young.”
Damn. The look on her face is a mix of desire and invitation, and I know I’d be a fool to turn down what she’s offering. My heart races as we arrive at Kerri’s, the anticipation building with each step closer to her grandparents’ home.
They give us a tour of the area, with a breakdown of the rules, which we set about breaking approximately five minutes later.
I grab my duffle bag from the car, and we sit and chat, reminiscing about the night and our senior year in general. The air is filled with laughter and nostalgia, and I can’t help but feel grateful for this moment.
Before long, Delzy and Ivy slip away to their own corner of the barn. I remember giving him a hard time when he first showed interest in her—something I now regret deeply.
I couldn’t understand how someone could become so consumed with another person back then. But now, as I feel myself being drawn toward this girl who has captivated me in every way possible, I finally get it. The intensity of emotions and longing that come with being truly connected to someone else.
As the night presses on, Sarah lets out a yawn and announces that she’s feeling tired. She wearily makes her way over to where she had laid out her sleeping bag when we arrived.
Kerri and Landry are engrossed in conversation, their voices carrying through the barn as they chat and laugh about something. Sascha, who had been leaning against a wooden post nearby, gives me a sly smile and gestures toward the back of the barn.
I practically leap to my feet and eagerly follow her.
“Hey, stranger,” Sascha purrs as I approach.
“Hey,” I reply, my voice slightly breathless with anticipation. “I’ve missed you today.”
With a playful smile, she teases me by running her fingers through her tousled hair. She takes a step toward me, her touch sending shivers down my spine as she begins to unbutton my shirt slowly.
I glance around, taking in our surroundings. “Right here?” I ask with a raised eyebrow. “I’m sure we could find a more secluded spot in the barn.” But she doesn’t seem deterred by the possibility of getting caught.
“I want you right here,” she says confidently, her eyes sparkling with desire.
“I love your kinky side,” I tell her. And with that, I allow the last of my clothing to fall to the ground and stand naked before her. She presses herself against me, her lips brushing against mine.
“Close your eyes,” she says, her voice a sultry whisper in my ear.
I eagerly comply, closing my eyes as she takes hold of my hands and trails soft, teasing kisses down my trembling body. “Stay here,” she murmurs, her breath hot against my skin. “I have a surprise for you. Keep your eyes closed.”
I stand there in nervous anticipation, outside of a barn, naked, my hands behind my back and with my rock-hard dick nearly touching my belly button.
I hear her footsteps approaching once more and then feel a rush of air against my skin as she stands before me. “Okay. Open your eyes,” she purrs, her voice dripping with seduction.
Slowly, I open my eyes, expecting a pleasurable surprise. But what I see before me is the most terrifying and horrifying thing I’ve ever laid eyes on.
Fear and shock flood through me, causing me to stumble back and recoil in horror. This was not the surprise I was expecting.
Glistening red orbs, filled with a fiery, burning rage, glare back at me as the distorted form of what may have once been a bird squawks in my face. Its feathers are matted and disheveled and missing in several spots, giving it the appearance of a half-cooked dick. And yet, despite its pitiful state, it still manages to exude an intense hostility.
“What the fuck?” I scream, my voice ringing out in the moonlit night.
Sascha doubles over in hysterical laughter. The devilish creature, frightened by Sascha’s laughter, begins flapping its wings, legs, head, and other available appendage in a panicked frenzy. Upon realizing that she’s holding an unstoppable demon, Sascha chooses to save herself and lets the break-dancing poultry loose on the ground. She then assumes the plane crash position on the ground out of the way of the chicken tantrum.
But the chicken decides I should be punished for taking it out of its roost or the special place it inhabits in Hell. Instead of advancing on Sascha, it viciously pecks at my bare foot. My instinct is to kick it in the devilish face, but I quickly realize this must be one of Kerri’s unstable pets. So I do the next best thing: I run.
As I take off in a full sprint toward destinations unknown, the rooster follows close behind. Its ragged feathers ruffle in the wind as it lets out an annoyingly persistent squawk.
I can hear Sascha’s laughter ringing in my ears as she tries to call after the bird. “Colonel Cocky,” she says. “Stop.” Just my luck that this infernal bird would have such a fitting name.
“Get the fuck away from me, Sergeant Dickhead!” I shout, picking up speed and streaking across an open field illuminated by moonlight.
But even as I run, I can hear Kerri’s Texas twang calling out for Colonel Cocky to leave me alone. The sound of her voice echoes in the darkness, adding another layer of chaos to this ridiculous chase under the night sky.
Landry’s voice rings out, laced with panic and urgency, as he calls after Kerri, who in turn is chasing after a bird that clearly has a death wish. But then, against all odds, the bird suddenly slows down as if a switch has been flipped within it. Perhaps the demon inhabiting its body moved on to possess something else.
As Kerri scoops the exhausted bird into her arms, cooing and soothing it like a mother with her child, I’ve never been so happy to be a hockey player with unending endurance. If I were anyone else, that thing would’ve caught me and pecked my dick. I’m sure of it.
With my head held high, I walk past everyone, as naked as the day I was born, grab a beer, take a seat, and drink it in one long swig.
Sascha pulled off the best prank yet. I have to hand it to her. But it’s not as if I don’t get something out of it. She makes it up to me later that night. A couple of times.