The Reunion

The bell rang for the final time. I was free, and we were free.

My best friend Jesse and I already cleaned out our shared locker in preparation for this day. We spent the day having fun and chatting with the other boys, while our teachers kept us calm, but otherwise not much else. We were graduating seniors. Jesse and I were the first boys running out of Bishop McNamara High School.

Along with our friends Eddy and Trent, we hopped into Jesse's lipstick red pickup truck and made our way past the old movie theater, past Polk Diner where I had my first date with Casey Brown, past the dentist's office I'd been going to since I was six, past the town square and the sheriff's station, out of the city center, to the abandoned mine at the edge of town.

Once there, we jumped out and pulled out the matching cooler in the cargo bed, sitting it on the dusty ground. We opened it up and I almost howled. "How'd you get this, man?"

"Bobby, you know how my parents are," my friend reminded me. "They don't pay attention worth a shit. They're not gonna notice a few cans missing."

I nodded as I took a beverage, along with the others. We sat next to each other and snapped open our cold ones as our feet dangled over the edge.

"You spoiled us, Jess," Trent complimented him as he gulped some of the Hoppy Bear Ale.

He shyly flashed his pearly whites. "Thanks, brah."

The four of us sat without speaking as we enjoyed each other's presence. The hawks circled the giant hole, their whistling echoing against the quiet.

After several minutes, a throat clearing by Eddy broke our silence. "After this, we're going our separate ways. I dunno about you, but it feels...you know...weird."

"I'm gonna miss y'all when I move to New York next week," Trent said. "I mean, it'll be nice living with my dad and working for him. He makes great money as a plumber, and that'll be me at some point. But it won't be the same."

"You're right, it won't. My parents say that I'm gonna make new friends when I go away to college. They keep saying that they invested a lot in my education, so I guess 'doctor' is in my future."

"It'll be fine, Eddy," I reassured him. "You won't really be all alone. You'll have me. We're gonna be roommates, remember?"

"Yeah."

"And we're gonna go to some kick-ass parties. It'll be like this, but up to eleven."

"True, man. One thing about college is that they've got lots of chicks."

My attention then turned to my best buddy, who was staring off into the distance, can in hand. "Jesse, we'll come visit on breaks and holidays. It'll be like old times."

"Sure," he whispered.

"I swear, we will."

He then turned to look at me. "Bobby, I get it. You guys are leaving town, and you'll be living your lives, and that'll be awesome. Go do that, I'm rooting for you. But us keeping in touch? You don't want to make promises you can't keep."

"C'mon man..." Eddy jumped in. "We're not gonna forget you. You're still our bro."

"I'm sure you mean well, but things never quite turn out that way. Time marches on."

Trent then made him an offer. "Jesse — my dad always has a lot of work. I'll talk to him and I'm sure he'll take you on, too."

"Nah, I can't do that. Guys, I'll be alright here. Hawk Point is what I know. This is where I belong. Let's just finish up these cans and enjoy this time for what it is."

***

"Sweetie?"

I looked up from my desk in my study to see my beautiful wife standing in the doorway, black mug in hand.

"Your tea is ready."

"Thank you, Miranda. Just sit it on the edge of my desk. Try not to put it on the papers."

Once she set the mug down, I picked it up and took a sip. "Green tea, my favorite. You're amazing, hun."

She smiled. "I've got to get to bed soon. Busy day tomorrow at the firm. When do you think you'll be joining me?"

I stared at the computer screen, which stared blankly back at me. "What's 'time?' It's just a construct anyway. I don't know why so many people care about it as much as they do."

She sighed. "Okay...that's fine. Have a good night, Bob."

Once she left the room, I was still trying to figure out where I needed to start on this paper for a philosophy conference coming up in a few months.

Immanuel Kant and the categorical imperative...what can I say about this that hasn't already been said? I like the way Nietzsche went about his critiques, but what can I possibly add? Why did I even sign up to give this paper? What the fuck was I thi—

Thankfully, the screeching ring of my cell phone interrupted my spiraling thoughts.

"Hey brah, it's Jesse," a scratchy voice identified himself.

A little older, a little weathered, but that's my best buddy for sure.

"Jesse! Good to hear from you. How's Hawk Point?"

"It's the same as it always was. How's the ivory tower?"

"Full of politics, as usual. So, what's up?"

"Well, have Eddy or Trent told you about Bishop McNamara's twenty-five-year high school reunion?"

Truthfully, it's been a while since I've talked to Eddy and Trent. Hell, it's been a while since I've talked to Jesse.

"No, I had no idea."

"It's in June...on the thirteenth. I'll be there. We'll all be there."

I briefly checked my calendar. "I can make that. Just let me know where I'm supposed to sign up."

"Will do."

"It's been too long, man. Looking forward to seeing you."

"Same, brah, same."

***

The sun hung low in the sky to the west as I arrived in Hawk Point. Miranda was on a business trip, so that left me alone to make my presence known.

As I drove through the town square, the old haunts looked familiar, but not quite. The sheriff's station got a paint job. The statue in the town square looked a little more worn. The dentist's office was still there, but a new dentist's name was on the awning. Polk Diner became El Rancho Mexican Restaurant, and the old movie theater switched from films to live community theater shows.

But when I pulled into the lot at Bishop McNamara High School, that building was just the way I remembered it. The three-story brick facade was the same, down to the faded marks on the south wall from when Jesse and I threw paint-filled balloons against it one summer night while we were juniors. We never got caught, by the way.

I parked my navy Saab in a space. I'm shocked this spot is free. The school's packed. I don't remember it looking like this since graduation. It was the last time I was truly happy.

I got out, shook out my grey slacks, matching button-down shirt, and black and white striped tie. My eyes cast down on my polished black shoes. Nice. I took out a comb and fixed that stubborn, faded cowlick. Let's go and see the boys.

I stepped inside the auditorium. Music was hanging in the air, the kind of music we would listen to in Jesse's truck over two decades ago. Lots of people were standing around, drinking beer and wine, eating hors d'oeuvres, and chatting. And these people were all very, very old.

As I milled about the crowd, I was struck by the fact that nobody was recognizable. These people were my parents' age...maybe even the same age as my grandparents.

Then, a small group of three men, standing by the punch bowl, caught my eye. There they are! We've gotten older, but damn, they look put together, and so do I. And it looks like Trent and Jesse are married. Wowza!

"Hey guys!"

The men turned and stared at me. Their eyes were vacant.

"Guys?"

"Hey...who are you?" Eddy asked.

I was so confused. "I'm Bobby...Bobby Jankowski, remember? Eddy...we were friends in high school...and we were even roommates our first two years of college."

"Uh...I don't recall that."

I then turned to Trent. "You and I were friends, too. We had pretty much the same schedule senior year, and I dated your sister, Casey."

"That's weird. I don't remember a Bobby Jankowski. And my sister had the same boyfriend throughout high school. They're married now. I think you're mistaken, buddy."

The lithe, middle-aged woman standing next to Trent took a small step back, while holding his arm harder. "Are you okay, sir? Maybe we can get you some help."

What is going on? "No...I'm fine."

I then turned to face my oldest friend. "Jesse, you called me back in March to tell me about the reunion."

He shook his head. "You're mistaken. I've never seen you a day in my life."

I was shocked. Jesse, of all people? How could he not remember? "You lived two doors down from me on Bosco Street. We were inseparable growing up. Our parents knew each other, they went to school together. Hell — you and I shared the same locker in high school, and we rode around in your big red pickup all the time. Look — I was there when you bought it at the dealership the next town over."

Jesse stood there, rubbing his bearded chin, with a look in his eye, as if a memory was almost triggered. Almost.

The woman next to him looked up at him, concern written on her face. "Jess, do you remember this guy?"

He hung his head, perplexed. "Bobby...I'm trying to wrack my brain, but no. I feel like I should remember, but I don't. I'm very sorry."

Stunned, I walked away. I walked away from that auditorium, and away from Bishop McNamara High School. I drove away from the city center, with all the places that have come and gone. I drove out the way I came.

The abandoned mine was still there, much the same. I parked close by, then sat along the edge. The hawks circled the hole, whistling like they always had.

How could I just not exist?

Sitting by the mouth of the mine, my suited legs dangling over the edge, my memories drifted to the same time, twenty-five years ago.

"We're not gonna forget you. You're still our bro."

"I'm sure you mean well, but things never quite turn out that way. Time marches on."

Time marches on indeed.