Threnody (026).

(This is a 500-word-a-day novel project.)

I know a party game, Jesse said. It’s for when you have lots of different kinds of guests. It helps everybody get to know each other.

Is this one of those things where you stick the name of some famous dude on my back, and you talk to me like I’m him until I figure it out? Ryan clucked his tongue. My sister dragged me to one of those thing once, and this chick spent the whole night asking me if I thought David Bowie was hot. I was Mick Jagger.

She snorted. I’ve been to those things before, but no, this isn’t like that. It’s called I’ll Bet You Never. We make statements about each other that start with that, guessing things the other one hasn’t done. The fun is finding out that people aren’t like you thought they were.

I’m guessing this is gonna help you decide whether I’m a dangerous greaser or not. When she sputtered a denial, he held up his hands. I’m just pulling your leg. I’ve had people give me that look my whole life, so I’m not offended. But hey, we got nothing but time, so let’s play your game. Sounds like fun.

She was embarrassed at being so easily seen through, and thankful that he was willing to let her get away with it. All right, she said. How about you go first?

The lady likes to play it dangerous, he said with a smirk. Wow, I got all kinds of ideas about what a straight arrow like you probably has never done.

Hey! she protested.

Aw, listen to her now! Ryan said, addressing the trees around them. She’s shocked and outraged! She’s gonna prove she’s not no good girl!

Stop it, Jesse said, laughing nonetheless. Come on, seriously. Make it a good one.

Okay, he said, scratching his ear and chewing his lip. Uh, I’ll bet you never stolen nothing.

That’s not true, she said smugly. I used to steal money from my father’s wallet.

That don’t count, he said, I’m talking about real stealing, like from a store.

That’s not what you said, she said.

Women, he said, rolling his eyes.

Watch it, she said, pointing. No room for macho bullshit here in Dimension X.

He roared with laughter, stomping the ground with one heel. That was a good one, but I do mean real actual god honest stealing, Jesse. You gotta play fair.
She thought on it. When I was in college, she said, my roommate Karen and I went for a joyride in a pizza delivery truck. The guy was delivering to a dorm and left it running with the door open, so we took it around town and left it behind the mall.

Outlaw, he said, shaking his head. Look what society has done to you.

My turn, she said. I’ll bet you never went to the opera.

Does The Nutcracker count? he asked. My grandma took me when I was a kid.

Close enough, she said.