Friday, March 30th, 1984
Allison couldn't rely on her parents. All she had asked for was a ride to Claire's house. Now, they were off to God knows where for the weekend, conveniently forgetting about her and leaving before she arrived home from school. At least they remembered to stock the fridge. She had milk, bread, cereal, soda, and pixie sticks. After feeding her grey Persian cat Miss T and giving her some scratches on her fluffy head, Allison pondered what to do next. She didn't want to take the bus on this cold March night. After a few moments, the room felt suffocating, the air heavy with an oppressive sadness that seemed to cling to every corner. She called Andy, and in fifteen minutes, he was there.
"Here," Allison slid over a six-pack of beer. She loved giving gifts, especially ones she hadn't purchased.
"Budweiser, thanks!" His tone didn't match his expression. Peering into his usually sparkling baby blues, Allison could see a twinge of redness and puffiness. Knowing what a person looks like when they've been crying, her heart sank. She could only imagine how Andy's dad reacted to almost getting kicked off the wrestling team and losing his captaincy.
"I don't drink, but if you want, I'll call Claire, and we can hang out here instead."
He looked down, unable to maintain eye contact lest she see. "Nah, it's cool," he shrugged. "You can't deny your new girlfriends, and I can't ditch those guys; poor Brian wouldn't survive a night with John alone." He smiled, though it was wary yet bright.
This warmed Allison's heart. John and Brian were genuine people that her guy could lean on. She nodded. "Okay, see you in detention tomorrow."
Brian reflected on the week and his role in landing himself and his friends in another Friday detention.
"Did you hear? Andrew Clark almost killed Gus for a nerd!" Brian's head lowered as they entered homeroom, ashamed of all the attention, was fidgeting, but let himself be steered nonetheless.
"I heard he broke all of his fingers!"
"I heard he has a love affair with that nerdy kid, that's why he beat up Gus!"
"Whoa, for real? I never took Andy for a fag!"
"Ignore them," Andy muttered "They'll have forgotten over the weekend, trust me." He was well aware of the stares most students shot them. The rumor that he had ditched his wrestling buddies for a nerd had spread like wildfire. Presumably, everyone had a different theory as to why, but Andy really couldn't care fucking less. His only concern was that the teacher Mrs. Lindquist was running late for the third time this week.
"FUCK THAT!" Brian screamed. The frustration boiled within him, fueled by Cameron Frye's relentless gossip about Claire and him. He thought that Cameron was his friend, but he found out he was the main culprit behind the rumors. In a moment of unbridled anger, Brian confronted Cameron, slapping him across the face with such force that the room fell silent.
"I expect better from you man, you're the captain of the Alge-bros!" The shock rippled through the classroom, amplifying the tension. Brian's confrontation was cut short as Andy intervened, pulling him away from Cameron.
"Brian, what's wrong!?" Claire and Angela's arrival only escalated the chaos, when Claire rushed over to see what was wrong with Brian, Cameron's envy emerged with a vengeance.
"Brain's whore and her nappy poodle to the rescue!" Cameron spat out with a sneer—Cameron's spiteful insults sparking a violent reaction from the girls. The girls' eyes widened briefly with a silent gasp before the scene erupted into chaos. Most of the class gasped. Still, the handful of bitter jocks and jealous mathletes laughed at the vile insults, with Mrs. Lindquist's belated arrival failing to quell the commotion.
Brian watched as the girls were escorted out, knowing that Cameron's manipulative tactics would likely result in repercussions for him.
Later, when called to the office and given detention, Brian accepted his fate with resignation. Despite being grounded indefinitely, he welcomed the opportunity to spend time with John and Andy.
"What do you think Bender has in mind tonight?" Brian asked, his brows tipped up.
"Not sure, but how about this," As they embarked on their Friday night outing, Andy offered him a beer, a small reprieve from the turmoil of the day, "Have one, it'll take your mind off things."
Mr. Standish generously tipped the pizza delivery guy and wished the kids a good evening before stepping out with Mrs. Standish. Claire anxiously awaited the arrival of the other girls. While Angela and Allison helped themselves to the Chicago-style deep-dish pizza.
Just then, the phone rang, and Claire's expression quickly shifted from curiosity to frustration as she spoke to the caller. After a heated exchange, she slammed the phone down in exasperation.
"What a total fake ass! Jane promised all week that she'd still hang with us after school despite all the nonsense!" Claire vented, feeling disappointed by Jane's cancellation and the ongoing rumors circulating about her.
Angela, unfazed, remarked, "I told you that phony was going to cancel on you."
Claire paced the kitchen, fuming. "I bet it's because Simone and Jeanie told her not to hang with us. She was pretending to sound sick. She is so fake!" she added, rolling her eyes.
"Jane is a bore anyway," Angela commented, offering Claire a plate of pizza. "Let's see if Tia is down to hang with The Breakfast Club."
Moments later, the phone rang again, and Claire's hopeful expression quickly turned sour as she realized Tia wasn't coming.
She rolled her eyes in exasperation at the nonsensical explanation. "You don't even have a dog, YOU LIAR!" Claire yells and hangs up the phone in annoyance after another frustrating conversation.
"That group is all about image and control, they can't control us, so they'll try to control how others see us," Angela took a bite of pepperoni.
"Yeah, forget them," Claire agreed, realizing the superficiality of the popular crowd's judgments.
Allison suggested a toast to break the tension."Let's have a toast, shall we?!" as an enormous smile spread across her face. She was elated that the other girls would not join them. The energy is perfect the way it is.
Claire produced a bottle of peach schnapps from the liquor cabinet "Yes, a toast to the liberation of preppy standards!" Claire winked and Angela squealed. She laughed and poured a double shot for herself and Ang.
Allison opened a cola. As they laughed and enjoyed each other's company, Allison abstained from alcohol, revealing her dislike for it but relishing the opportunity to freak out freshmen in detention with her stories of vodka drinking. The trio shared a moment of solidarity, mocking the absurd rumors circulating about them. The main rumors circulating are that Allison is a witch who has cast a spell on the beloved jock, Claire has turned into a sexual deviant who preys on nerds, and Angela, naturally she'd be attracted to a thug.
"The rumors are unfair, but let's rise above them. Eventually, others will know the truth," Allison reassured her friends, feeling grateful for their companionship.
As they settled in to watch a movie, Claire, Angela, and Allison found comfort and joy in each other's presence, cherishing their bond and shared experiences. Their laughter filled the room, dispelling the negativity of the rumors and strengthening their friendship. They felt ridiculous for doing so, but the joy was overwhelming, and they found themselves crying.
Bender expressed gratitude to a slew of deities, Budda, Yahweh and Jehovah as Boomers Gas station expanded its menu to include pizza, alongside their famed beef dogs. He savored a slice and soda on the curb, awaiting Sport-o and the Brainiac.
Their next stop was Pixels, an arcade hall emitting a distinct odor of dirty carpet and adolescent sweat. Despite the ambiance, the boys reveled in the neon-lit haven, where gaming prowess equated to bragging rights. Brian dominated Space Invaders and Asteroids, while John showcased his skills in Pac-Man and Donkey Kong, and Andy excelled at Frogger and Defender. Time seemed irrelevant until the arcade announced its imminent closure at 10 pm.
"What's next?" Andy shouted over the cacophony of gaming sounds, feeling stuffed after indulging in sodas, nachos, pizza, and hotdogs.
"Let's check out the SVX090T telescope at my friend's place down the road," Brian suggested amid the clinking of quarters.
"Nope," Andy and Bender vetoed simultaneously. Exiting the arcade, Bender, fueled by a few beers and a sizable joint in the parking lot, proposed a visit to Buck's.
Guided by John's directions, they arrived at Buck's modest abode on the other side of town. Welcomed by Buck, a jovial, heavy-set man, they entered his basement retreat. Classic Rock music from the '60s played in the background as they settled in, the room adorned with a minibar, a pinball machine, and posters of bikini-clad women. All the while sounds of glass breaking, his aunt yelling, running footsteps, a crying baby, and laughing kids are heard above them.
"How many kids are up there?" Bender asked. Realizing why his uncle has retreated to the basement.
"Four girls and finally have my boy in the oven!" He lit a big stogie and reclined back in the chair proudly, "Oh yeah, and a few extra kids tonight. Marie, my eldest is having a Friday night sleepover with a couple of gals, should quiet down now that the Mrs. is fed up." He puffed the cigar.
"Congrats," Bender gave his uncle a high five. John admired his uncle, he often wondered how two brothers could be so different. His dad was either cold and distant or hot-tempered and abusive. Buck was always even-keeled, even jolly most time. John often sought refuge at his uncle's house, knowing he could never take his friends or anyone to his broken home.
"Grab a beer," Buck offered, distributing cans of Bush Light. Amidst the background chaos of family life upstairs, Buck proudly offered humorous insights into family dynamics and the simplicity of names. "Fun fact, we Benders have no middle name. My wife Griselda has three."
"Three middle names? She must take forever to sign a check," Andy laughed.
"Tell me about it," Buck grinned. "It's like watching a mini-series."
Brian looked dubious. "Is your real name Buck?"
"Yep, Buchanan. Buck for short. Beats being called 'Buchanan the Third', right? Imagine that on a high school locker."
Andy chuckled. "I don't know, man. It sounds kind of fancy."
"Yeah, fancy like a guy who wears a top hat to a ball game," Buck quipped.
Engaging in lighthearted banter and laughter, the evening unfolded with anecdotes and camaraderie. Brian's attempt to leave for a restroom break ended with a slammed door in his face, leaving him with a sore nose but no hard feelings.
"Guess the door didn't want you to leave either," Buck joked, patting Brian on the back.
They joked about the absurd rumors circulating about them, seeking advice on handling the students at Shermer.
"People will always see me as a criminal," John shrugged. "But now they're saying I'm ruining Angela's reputation."
Brian nodded. "And they're calling Claire a floozy with a fetish for nerds. It's ridiculous."
Andy sighed. "And the things they say about Allison... they're convinced she's a witch. I'm at my wit's end trying to convince them otherwise."
Uncle Buck chuckled, shaking his head. "Rumors are like weeds, boys. They grow wild and fast. But let me tell you something about love and loyalty. It doesn't matter what people say. What matters is how you stand by each other."
John raised an eyebrow. "But what if it gets worse?"
Buck leaned back, a wise glint in his eye. "People talk, John. That's what they do. But true character isn't defined by rumors. It's defined by your actions. Keep being there for each other, and the people who matter will see the truth."
The boys exchanged looks, a sense of reassurance washing over them. Despite the absurdity of the rumors, Uncle Buck's words resonated deeply, reminding them of the strength found in loyalty and love. The encounter provided a refreshing change of pace, offering insight into John's life and fostering a deeper connection among their friends.
Settling in front of the TV, they succumbed to the comfort of Uncle Buck's basement retreat, finding solace and companionship in each other's company as the night drew to a peaceful close.