December, 1991.
Claudia was innocently sitting for the Newtons that night. The Newtons were at the hospital to deliver Jamie and Lucy's new sibling. Consequently, Jamie and Lucy were spending the night with the Kishis. Lucy and Jamie's eyes began to close as Claudia read "Goodnight, Moon." As Claudia finished the last page, both children began breathing heavily. And that left Claudia with the television, some chips in the pantry, and an empty house. Or, so she thought...
BRRRRING, went the phone.
"Hello?"
"CLAUD!" the voice on the other end was loud. And it would have sounded like Janine, if Janine was given to shouting on the phone."CLAUDEEEUUUUH..." Now the Janine-esque voice moaned.
"Who is this?"
Another moan. "I meant to leave before jello shots..."
"JANINE? IS THAT YOU?"
"Nooo," moaned Janine. "You're hallucinating. This will all be a dream in the morning. But for now, I need you to pick me up. Ugh, I think I'm gonna be SICK again..."
"Oh, my lord, you're drunk!" cried Claudia.
"Now that you've come to a logical conclusion, could you get your ASS in the car? My autonomic nervous system is collapsing as we speak!"
"Uh, okay," Claudia replied, too shocked to even be upset. "I'll just call Kristy to come stay with the Newtons. Uh, where are you at?"
"Not..." Janine giggled shrilly. "Not 'where are you AT'! Claudeeee, you just... heeeheee, ended a sentence with a preposition. I'm at Rosa's but she's not here. Maybe she's getting it on! OOPS, WHERE'S MY PREPOSITION NOW?!"
And at that, Janine burst out laughing.
"I'm on my way," said Claudia, hurriedly. With that, she called Kristy. After convincing Kristy that it really wasn't a prank and getting her to come over, Claudia got in the car and went to fetch Janine.
It was the only time. But it was enough to last Claudia a lifetime.