The Feeling - Chapter Sixteen: Good Times
The four friends sat around a couple of orders of chili cheese fries and a round of chug-a-freezes that Friday afternoon at the Snack Shack. It had been awhile since they all got to sit down and hang out like this. The past week or two had kept all of them separated and thinking about their friendship. All of them kicked back, happy with the return of their habitual weekends.
"Yeah, I tell ya this is what it's all about. No worries, no work, just chili cheese fries, friends, chili cheese fries, hangin' out, and chili cheese fries," Carver said with a grin.
"Totally. I can't even begin to describe how much I missed just sittin' around doin' nothin'. I'm being completely honest when I say nothing feels more rewarding than hanging out with you guys," Lor commented.
"Indubitably. That's because when we hang out we feel safe and secure. We all have complete loyalty to one another and know that we can say anything to each other. We know that we can trust our dreams and secrets to each other without fear of being rejected or ostracized. We are like a big bundle of sticks. When alone we are brittle, but banded together we are unbreakable and can leave a big welt if we smack someone," Tish said triumphantly.
"Oooookay. You lost me at the end there. But think about it, we have been hanging out with each other for over ten years now. We are closer than a lot of families. After having been through so much all these years it's only natural that we love hangin' out with each other. I've said it before and I'll say it again, we are synchronized. We all know each other so well it's almost like we are psychic. We value our friendship above all else, and we all know that we will sacrifice for the sake of the friendship. I've known a lot of groups of friends and I have to say we are a rarity these days because of our ability to ride on. And so here's to friends forever!" Tino said raising his chug-a-freez.
The others followed suit and knocked their cups together. They all took a sip and sighed a sigh of relaxation at the same time.
"Synchronized!" they all yelled.
"You're definitely right, T. There is no keepin' us down. These past few months have proven that beyond a shadow of a doubt," Carver commented.
"Without question. I mean when Tino and I became a couple it didn't affect this group at all. We still hung out and everything went as it always did," Lor said.
"Yeah, that's right. After Lor and I had sex it didn't make things all weird when we hung out. We stayed the same," Tino added.
"And of course when Lor might have been pregnant, we were all still willing to stick together. Even if it did cut down on the time we would see each other we still would uphold our friendship," Tish stated.
"I'm glad I'm not pregnant, but it makes me happy to know that all of you would have been there for me if I was," Lor commented.
"What are friends for, right?" Carver said.
"Exactly! Through thick and thin, unto the ends of the Earth, till the end of time, beyond the grave and into the great unknown, nothing will break this friendship apart!" Tino shouted out.
"Hey kid, don't stand on the table!" the snack shack guy yelled at Tino.
An embarrassed smile crept across Tino's face as he sat back down.
"Man, I have really gotta stop doing that," he commented.
"You know when you consider what has happened over the past few months it all comes back to Lor and Tino," Tish commented.
"You know what, you're right. These two are the ones who became a couple, who had sex, who got into a fistfight, and who almost had a baby. All of these events in the past few months fall into their hands....... Man, I wish I had that much interesting stuff happen to me," Carver said.
"I guess now that you mention it, everything does lead back to us. Wow, I'm sorry guys if this had any averse effects for you," Tino said apologetically.
"Don't apologize. If anything we should be thanking you guys," Tish said.
"How so?" Lor inquired.
"Yeah, how so?" Carver also asked.
"Well, think about it, we have all learned a lot as a result of your actions. We have learned about the strength of friendship, how to be courageous, and the importance of being prepared along with the importance of abstinence. All of these things are important life lessons and we owe it to you two," Tish said.
"I never thought of it that way before, but you're right. I guess it was a blessing in disguise," Lor commented.
"Yeah, and I know that I'll always remember these lessons," Tino commented.
"You said it, but I know I'm learning a lesson right now, and it's that I don't like cold chili cheese fries so I'm eatin'," Carver said.
The others laughed a little and joined Carver in his gluttony.
The four friends walked along to Tino's house and upon their arrival they noticed both Tino's mom and Dixon sitting on the swing on Tino's porch.
"Hi Dixon and Ms. Tonitini. I can't wait for your wedding tomorrow," Tish said.
"Oh thank you. I'm a little nervous to tell you the truth. It's hard to imagine that tomorrow I'm getting married again," Ms. Tonitini commented.
"Oh it will be fine. It will be a nice ceremony for the two of us. We have it all planned out, there is nothing to be nervous about," Dixon said trying to calm her worries.
"Are you ever worried or concerned about anything?" Lor asked Dixon.
"You know I think there was this one time several years back, but I don't really remember much about it because I didn't care to worry about it."
"Ahhhh.. Huh?" Lor responded.
"You know I'll agree with you, mom. I'm kind of nervous about tomorrow. I mean what if I mess up? What if instead of being a best man, I'm a good man or a mediocre man? What then?" Tino said voicing his worries.
"I think you will be just fine. I have confidence in your ability to be a best man. Just be positive, that's all," Tino's mom offered.
"Hey, Dixon I have a question for you. How was your bachelor party? Did you get drunk? Did you get some female 'entertainment'?" Carver asked with an honest curiosity.
"Haha, well I..." Dixon's voice faded as he noticed the piercing glare coming from Tino's mom.
"Uhhhh, no, no, no I wouldn't dream of such a thing. Ha, bachelor party, haha, where did you ever get such a notion?" Dixon said slightly nervously.
"Wow, I can't believe what I just saw. Did the mighty Dixon just falter? Tino, I think your mom might be some type of super human," Lor commented.
" I don't know, but I certainly wouldn't put it past her," Tino replied.
"Well, judging from the hands of my watch, I have to be getting' home," Tish said.
"Yeah me too," Carver said.
"And me," Lor added.
"Before you guys leave, are you all certain of your roles in tomorrow's ceremony?" Tino's mom asked.
The three nodded.
"Good, we can't wait to see you guys here tomorrow," Dixon said.
"Okay then later days," Tino said waving to his friends.
"Yeah, later days," they all called back as they left.
"So are you excited about tomorrow, Tino?" Dixon asked.
"You know it. I have been waiting for this day for four years now. I mean it's been a long time since I have had a father figure in the house. That's not anything against you mom. I have been happy with just you, but it will be good to have a man in the house again."
"Well, I'm certainly happy you feel that way, Tino," Dixon said.
"Hey honey, can you go inside? I want to be alone with Dixon for a little while, okay?" Tino's mom asked.
"No problem, mom. I have some work to do in my room anyway, but no funny stuff out here. You two aren't married yet, so I have my eye on you, Dixon," Tino commented as he went inside.
Tino couldn't help but smile. He had made it through hardships, and now things were looking up and the future was bright in his eyes.
End of Chapter Sixteen
This chapter is just supposed to a bridge into the next chapter. In fact, the only reason I really have it is because I use everyday of the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) and I didn't want the wedding to be on a Friday so I threw this together as Friday's events. Just thought I would let you know is all. Time for the usual mantra, stay tuned and keep readin' and reviewin'.
The four friends sat around a couple of orders of chili cheese fries and a round of chug-a-freezes that Friday afternoon at the Snack Shack. It had been awhile since they all got to sit down and hang out like this. The past week or two had kept all of them separated and thinking about their friendship. All of them kicked back, happy with the return of their habitual weekends.
"Yeah, I tell ya this is what it's all about. No worries, no work, just chili cheese fries, friends, chili cheese fries, hangin' out, and chili cheese fries," Carver said with a grin.
"Totally. I can't even begin to describe how much I missed just sittin' around doin' nothin'. I'm being completely honest when I say nothing feels more rewarding than hanging out with you guys," Lor commented.
"Indubitably. That's because when we hang out we feel safe and secure. We all have complete loyalty to one another and know that we can say anything to each other. We know that we can trust our dreams and secrets to each other without fear of being rejected or ostracized. We are like a big bundle of sticks. When alone we are brittle, but banded together we are unbreakable and can leave a big welt if we smack someone," Tish said triumphantly.
"Oooookay. You lost me at the end there. But think about it, we have been hanging out with each other for over ten years now. We are closer than a lot of families. After having been through so much all these years it's only natural that we love hangin' out with each other. I've said it before and I'll say it again, we are synchronized. We all know each other so well it's almost like we are psychic. We value our friendship above all else, and we all know that we will sacrifice for the sake of the friendship. I've known a lot of groups of friends and I have to say we are a rarity these days because of our ability to ride on. And so here's to friends forever!" Tino said raising his chug-a-freez.
The others followed suit and knocked their cups together. They all took a sip and sighed a sigh of relaxation at the same time.
"Synchronized!" they all yelled.
"You're definitely right, T. There is no keepin' us down. These past few months have proven that beyond a shadow of a doubt," Carver commented.
"Without question. I mean when Tino and I became a couple it didn't affect this group at all. We still hung out and everything went as it always did," Lor said.
"Yeah, that's right. After Lor and I had sex it didn't make things all weird when we hung out. We stayed the same," Tino added.
"And of course when Lor might have been pregnant, we were all still willing to stick together. Even if it did cut down on the time we would see each other we still would uphold our friendship," Tish stated.
"I'm glad I'm not pregnant, but it makes me happy to know that all of you would have been there for me if I was," Lor commented.
"What are friends for, right?" Carver said.
"Exactly! Through thick and thin, unto the ends of the Earth, till the end of time, beyond the grave and into the great unknown, nothing will break this friendship apart!" Tino shouted out.
"Hey kid, don't stand on the table!" the snack shack guy yelled at Tino.
An embarrassed smile crept across Tino's face as he sat back down.
"Man, I have really gotta stop doing that," he commented.
"You know when you consider what has happened over the past few months it all comes back to Lor and Tino," Tish commented.
"You know what, you're right. These two are the ones who became a couple, who had sex, who got into a fistfight, and who almost had a baby. All of these events in the past few months fall into their hands....... Man, I wish I had that much interesting stuff happen to me," Carver said.
"I guess now that you mention it, everything does lead back to us. Wow, I'm sorry guys if this had any averse effects for you," Tino said apologetically.
"Don't apologize. If anything we should be thanking you guys," Tish said.
"How so?" Lor inquired.
"Yeah, how so?" Carver also asked.
"Well, think about it, we have all learned a lot as a result of your actions. We have learned about the strength of friendship, how to be courageous, and the importance of being prepared along with the importance of abstinence. All of these things are important life lessons and we owe it to you two," Tish said.
"I never thought of it that way before, but you're right. I guess it was a blessing in disguise," Lor commented.
"Yeah, and I know that I'll always remember these lessons," Tino commented.
"You said it, but I know I'm learning a lesson right now, and it's that I don't like cold chili cheese fries so I'm eatin'," Carver said.
The others laughed a little and joined Carver in his gluttony.
The four friends walked along to Tino's house and upon their arrival they noticed both Tino's mom and Dixon sitting on the swing on Tino's porch.
"Hi Dixon and Ms. Tonitini. I can't wait for your wedding tomorrow," Tish said.
"Oh thank you. I'm a little nervous to tell you the truth. It's hard to imagine that tomorrow I'm getting married again," Ms. Tonitini commented.
"Oh it will be fine. It will be a nice ceremony for the two of us. We have it all planned out, there is nothing to be nervous about," Dixon said trying to calm her worries.
"Are you ever worried or concerned about anything?" Lor asked Dixon.
"You know I think there was this one time several years back, but I don't really remember much about it because I didn't care to worry about it."
"Ahhhh.. Huh?" Lor responded.
"You know I'll agree with you, mom. I'm kind of nervous about tomorrow. I mean what if I mess up? What if instead of being a best man, I'm a good man or a mediocre man? What then?" Tino said voicing his worries.
"I think you will be just fine. I have confidence in your ability to be a best man. Just be positive, that's all," Tino's mom offered.
"Hey, Dixon I have a question for you. How was your bachelor party? Did you get drunk? Did you get some female 'entertainment'?" Carver asked with an honest curiosity.
"Haha, well I..." Dixon's voice faded as he noticed the piercing glare coming from Tino's mom.
"Uhhhh, no, no, no I wouldn't dream of such a thing. Ha, bachelor party, haha, where did you ever get such a notion?" Dixon said slightly nervously.
"Wow, I can't believe what I just saw. Did the mighty Dixon just falter? Tino, I think your mom might be some type of super human," Lor commented.
" I don't know, but I certainly wouldn't put it past her," Tino replied.
"Well, judging from the hands of my watch, I have to be getting' home," Tish said.
"Yeah me too," Carver said.
"And me," Lor added.
"Before you guys leave, are you all certain of your roles in tomorrow's ceremony?" Tino's mom asked.
The three nodded.
"Good, we can't wait to see you guys here tomorrow," Dixon said.
"Okay then later days," Tino said waving to his friends.
"Yeah, later days," they all called back as they left.
"So are you excited about tomorrow, Tino?" Dixon asked.
"You know it. I have been waiting for this day for four years now. I mean it's been a long time since I have had a father figure in the house. That's not anything against you mom. I have been happy with just you, but it will be good to have a man in the house again."
"Well, I'm certainly happy you feel that way, Tino," Dixon said.
"Hey honey, can you go inside? I want to be alone with Dixon for a little while, okay?" Tino's mom asked.
"No problem, mom. I have some work to do in my room anyway, but no funny stuff out here. You two aren't married yet, so I have my eye on you, Dixon," Tino commented as he went inside.
Tino couldn't help but smile. He had made it through hardships, and now things were looking up and the future was bright in his eyes.
End of Chapter Sixteen
This chapter is just supposed to a bridge into the next chapter. In fact, the only reason I really have it is because I use everyday of the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) and I didn't want the wedding to be on a Friday so I threw this together as Friday's events. Just thought I would let you know is all. Time for the usual mantra, stay tuned and keep readin' and reviewin'.