her with Coke. She set her up."
"I believe a lot of this could be explained by coincidence."
"And the paper shorts?" Angie said.
"I'm going to put on The Beach Boys!" Bert exclaimed.
"Pure, unadulterated brilliance," Park said.
Music, soft and pleasant, floated through her ears, mingled with Robin's polite defence, and Angie's and Kerry's sharp prosecution. But there were gaps, where Shani saw coloured pictures as vague as her mushy thoughts, and grey voids, where she saw and heard nothing at all. Yet she continued to surface periodically. The outside voices changed, in personnel and tone. Her name was mentioned, her foot pinched again. Doors opened and closed. The Pretenders started singing, people started dancing. The party was getting a second wind. Her bladder began to call for attention again. She opened her eyes.
Park, Bert, Robin and Angie were dancing as one big couple. Sol was stretched on his back on the couch smoking, Lena sitting on his lap drinking vodka and orange juice. There was no one in the bathroom but it was such a bother to get up. Shani assumed that Kerry had gone home until she saw her come out of the kitchen.
"My car still won't start," she said to Sol.
"Jap junk," he scowled, blowing a cloud of smoke. "I'll take you home in a minute, babe."
"When? It's one-thirty. I've got to work in the morning."
"Shani will take you home," Lena said. Shani deeply appreciated the offer of her services. She doubted she could start a car, never mind drive one.
"Shani's asleep," Sol observed, though her eyes must have been at least half open because she could see. The recordBack on the Chain Gang came to an end. Angie broke from the dance floor, heading for the kitchen. Bert made for the bathroom - naptime again. Robin fell, winded, into her chair, sweating and laughing, the picture of youth and vigour. Park collapsed at her feet, forever giggling.
"Why don't you just walk?" Lena asked.
Kerry had been doing an admirable job of avoiding Lena. Her approach underwent a dramatic revision.
"Why don't you just go to hell?" she blurted.
Lena sipped her drink, said casually. "When the time's right, I probably will."
But Sol sat up suddenly, causing Lena to fall on her ass on the floor and spill her drink in her face. He put out his cigarette. "I'll take you home now, Kerry."
"The hell you will!" Lena yelled, wiping at her dress. "You clumsy Cholo! Look what you've done."
Sol must have still been riding his Jack Daniels' buzz. In a normal state of consciousness, he would not have dared his next words. "Shut up, Lena."
Shani waited for the explosion. Lena's brown eyes widened. She sucked in a breath. "What did you say?" she asked very slowly, very softly.
Shani hoped that Sol actually did carry the switchblade Park accused him of keeping. "You heard me," he said.
"I guess I did," Lena whispered ominously. Everyone waited. Yet the bomb was suddenly defused, or else put on hold. Lena appeared to realise she was moving into a no-win situation. And Lena hated to lose. She smiled at Kerry. "Sol's so drunk, I know you wouldn't want him to drive. Robin and I won't be here much longer. We can give you a ride home."
What could Kerry say? She had scored the most points, but Lena had still somehow come out on top.
"Fine," Kerry muttered.
With the fireworks over, Shani contemplated unconsciousness again. Angie reappeared with a tray laden with freshly tapped litre mugs of beer. Park, Sol, and Kerry each took a glass. Angie set the remainder of the drinks on the corner table next to Robin. Lena went into the kitchen, probably to clean up.
"You running for sainthood?" Angie chided Robin. "Have a drink."
"I'll pass. I have to drive."
"Come on," Park said. "I've been drinking all night and I wouldn't hesitate to climb on top of the wheel."
"You mean,behind the wheel," Robin laughed.
"Wouldn't hesitate!" Park swore, drinking deeply.
Sol put on another record. His brain cells must have been drowning. They listened to an entire side of theCarpenters' Greatest Hits before Bert came out of the bathroom and stumbled into the stereo, turning off the music. Kerry jumped up for a nature call, but ran into Lena at the bathroom door. They exchanged unheard words. Kerry ended up following Bert - who was wandering aimlessly - into the kitchen. Sol shook his head sadly and got to his feet. He did not go into the kitchen or the bathroom, but drifted out of sight