"You can't be here. I know who your brother is."
"Oh, take me with you!" a drunken Jenny said.
"Okay. Can you drop us off at Arnold's? I have the key and I want to try to get the alcohol out of her system before going home."
"Sure. Let's go." Joanie didn't feel right getting a ride from him, but she didn't want her parents to find out she had snuck out.
A little while later, they arrived at Arnold's.
"Thanks." The man nodded then drove off Joanie used the key to unlock it and both girls went in.
Joanie went in the kitchen to make coffee while Jenny went in the ladies' room. She came out and sat in the booth and rested her head. Once the coffee was brewed, Joanie took it so that Jenny could drink it, Joanie took it and a cup with her to the booth, set the coffee down, and sat down.
"Are the hunks going to come and visit us?" Jenny drunkenly asked.
"No guy is coming. Here, drink this."
"What is this?"
"Black coffee. When my brother got drunk a few years ago, my dad gave him black coffee to help with the plaster."
"I'm fine. Let's go back to the party!" Jenny took a few sips.
"You have fun?"
"Oh yes, I did. Did I get too rowdy?"
"No, Jenny. We were underage and there were mostly college guys there. We shouldn't have been invited."
"Oh. I wonder if our parents knew about Jessica's party habits." Jenny then took a few sips of the coffee.
"I'm sure they did. They know everything. How are you feeling?"
"Okay." Jenny said then ran into the bathroom.
12:45am—
"This is my last cup. I'm feeling better right now."
"Good. I'm going to clean the pot and cups then we'll leave."
"Okay. Joanie, thanks," Jenny said.
"What are friends for?" Joanie went to clean up her mess then once they got outside, Joanie locked the door as they both walked to Jenny's.
Once they got to Jenny's she walked through the front door quietly, then Joanie walked home. Once she got home, she realized the front door and back door were locked then figured Richie was now home.
She climbed the tree since one of the branches was very close to Richie's window and hoped he could let her in. She started to climb the tree as it started to get windy which made the branch very wobbly.
"Whoa!" She accidentally yelled as she was on one of the branches, very close to Richie's window. She collected some acorns that were on the tree so she could get Richie's attention even though his room was dark. She threw a few at the window, then the wind blew again. She got on the ledge of the window instead and hung as she pounded the glass.
In Richie's room—
Richie was asleep when he heard something which woke him momentarily. He heard some knocking then a scream. He sat up, turned on the light, then saw someone outside his window due to the shadows on his shade. He got up, raised the blind, then saw Joanie hanging from the ledge with the branch just under her. Despite the wind, he opened his window.
"Joanie? What are you doing?" Richie went to get one of the chairs in his room and put it in front of the window so Joanie could hold on to it.
"Just help me get inside, Rich. I don't want Mom and Dad to know I snuck out."
"Oh, Joanie. This is dangerous, but see if you can grab my hand."
A gust of wind blew the tree causing the branch to sway violently as she lost her footing but Richie got her hand.
"AAAAHHHHH!"
"Shhhhh! If Dad wakes up, he'll really get mad."
"Oh, Rich. It's so windy."
"I know, I know," Richie said.
"OWWW!" The wind blew the branch on her leg causing it to hit the side of the house.
"You okay?"
"The branch hit my leg and now it hurts."
"Going to try to pull you up, just grab the back of the chair and pull yourself up."
"What is going on here?" A voice was heard.
Richie and Joanie stopped and realized she has been busted. They looked to see Howard and Marion standing in Richie's room in their robes.
"Joanie!" Marion quickly walked over to her as Richie continued to help her inside.
"Joanie Louise Cunningham, I am very disappointed in you."
"Are you all right dear?" Marion asked with concern as she hugged Joanie.
"I think so, my leg kinda hurts."
"Can you walk on it?" Richie asked as he closed the window and Joanie started to walk.
"A little."
Howard gave Joanie a hug as she gave him one, too.
"Dad, I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry, too." They helped her to her room then Howard went to get Joanie a glass of water while Joanie got ready for bed. She was sitting on her bed with Marion on the edge.
"Joanie, that was so dangerous and to sneak out like that. You could have gotten hurt and we would have never known where you were."
"You're right." There was a knock on the door then Howard was allowed in.
"Here is some water. I'm glad you are okay but I don't ever want you sneaking out like that again."
"Thanks, Dad," Joanie took a few sips then was tucked in by Marion.
"We will talk about this in the morning." Marion gave Joanie a kiss on the forehead and Howard did the same then they both went to their bedroom and went to sleep.
The next morning—
Everyone slept a bit later than usual, then Marion made breakfast after she got up. Joanie's leg was better and she was dressed for breakfast as everyone but Richie ate. Richie left in the Desoto to get an oil change as he figured they wanted to talk to Joanie alone.
"I'm going to ground you for two weeks."
"I still can't believe you snuck out. How was the party?" Marion asked.
"Marion!"
"It was okay. It was kind of a college type party and we were escorted out."
"Did you take a ride with them?" Marion asked.
"Yeah. He took me to Arnold's and dropped me off."
"You took a ride with a stranger?" Howard asked shocked.
"He knew Richie and recognized me."
"You should never take a ride from a stranger, you should have walked home or even called home," Howard said.
"I didn't want to get Jenny home drunk," Joanie said then realized she got Jenny in trouble.
"Jenny was drunk?" Marion asked.
"Yeah."
"You did the right thing to tell us that she was drunk."
"But Dad, she is my best friend."
"Good friends look out for friends," Marion said.
"I won't ever sneak out again."
"Good," Howard said then they gave Joanie a hug.