In between sips of my Amaretto Sour, I kept gingerly clinking my teeth together.
One of my hallmates suggested going to Nick’s, and I realized my usual response of “I’m not drunk enough to eat at Nick’s” was not accurate.
“I can’t feel my teeth,” I offered.
“Great, let’s go!”
Janice was the only person on the hall who was sober and awake. She graciously and foolishly agreed to drive a bunch of drunk people to Nick’s.
Surveying the crowd of us, she responsibly pointed out, “you won’t all fit in the car.”
Fro’s argument was clear and strong as he tossed her the keys, “Nick’s!”
We entered the car in shifts. The last available space was horizontal. Two of us had to wedge ourselves like Tetris pieces onto the laps of those already on the back seat.
My neck bent awkwardly and my head was jammed into the ceiling.
The Nick’s virgins got a briefing on the proper etiquette. Be ready by the time you get to the front of the line. No substitutions. Yes, you had to eat the macaroni salad. Don’t look, just eat.
We debated the merits of pouring ketchup over everything. We sang along with the radio. We accidentally poked each other in sensitive areas whenever Janice took a sharp corner.
Before I’d taken one bite, that first garbage plate from Nick’s turned out to be one of the most nourishing meals I’d ever had.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Zv5Tc-2Us4
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This post is a response to this week’s writing prompt at Write on Edge.
“Certain local items linger in your mind and weave together with memories and stories you remember with an almost possessive type of nostalgia. This week you have 350 words to write a fiction or creative non-fiction piece in which a local or regional item or industry plays a role.”
My college-era nostalgia is possessive indeed! As stated in the video, a garbage plate from Nick Tahou’s is a rite of passage for college students in Rochester, NY. He neglected to mention the drunk in the wee hours of the morning part.
Ahhh, youth! I remember cramming as many people as possible into my teeny Honda. Great description!
Looking back on it, it’s certainly nothing I’d consider doing now. Although, who needs a seat belt when you’re stuffed in the car like a sardine anyway?
This reminds me of the midnight nugget runs I do with my hubby and his friends – as long as one person is sober enough to drive.
I get late night cravings all the time. Once I convinced a guy I was dating to go out to eat late at night and he got into a car accident. Oops.
Took me back to college! (well, what little I remember)
I remember my college days better than last week. I kept a journal religiously, so it etched the memories into my head.
I remember (in a hazy sort of way) doing stuff like that during my college years. Ahhh, those were the days.
I used to roll my eyes at my mother when she said those would be the best years of my life. I was hoping/assuming she was wrong. Now I’m not sure she was wrong. I had no money in college, but I had boat loads of time. What I wouldn’t give for that free time now.
Last weekend my wife took me out for my birthday (the day of it is the 10th but we had a borthday party for my youngest girl whose days are aug 30th and sept 12) and we ended up ina similar state as these folks.
let’s just say there was a waffle house at midnight and two people ina booth that needed a cab
great details…i was “there”
Happy belated birthday, Lance! I always liked to think I was a cute drunk, but probably not so much.
Thanks for the compliment…good thing you weren’t really there…or your neck would be really sore.