More Short Stories to Read on a Bus, a Car, a Train, a Plane (or a comfy chair anywhere). Colin Palmer
PARTY
“Fool.”
“Asshole.”
“Dickwad.”
“Moron.”
“Fu.. God’s sake, stop it!”
“Sure, pussy!”
Brandon and Lee. Friends since, well since God was a boy! They were virtually inseparable after first meeting at kindergarten a million years ago it seemed to their long suffering parents and respective siblings. Never had the boys, now men, ever done an individual thing without the other, except for the obligatory responsibilities as members of different families but even then, on many occasions one or the other had managed to accompany his mate and their family to a boring visit at Aunt Edith’s (she of the unknown and spectacularly bad culinary ability) or a picnic in the field adjacent to the retirement home where Great Uncle Fred was pining away the last of his days. Friends for life. They even established their own business together, now a successful construction company, B&L Enterprises. The success in business, long term comradeship and life in general they both put down to the rock solid foundation of their love and support for each other as friends.
Lee had a steady girlfriend, Brandon was into experiencing life and every opportunity that came knocking, especially when it came to girls. It came as a surprise when Lee announced he had proposed to Leigh, his girlfriend, surprise to family and friends but more like shock for Brandon. He accepted that Lee and Leigh were made for each other and she even accepted that Lee spent almost more time with Brandon than he did at home with her. Brandon firmly believed that marriage or not, he and Lee would continue to live their lives as they always had. Friends, inseparable, together, forever.
Everybody knew Lee was the intelligent one of the duo, Brandon the knock-about, the handyman, the jack-of-all-trades and the one most likely to do something impulsive. Another surprise for all was when Lee further announced that he and Brandon would be going away for a camping weekend to a remote mountain lake, just the two of them, and he saw it as being his Bachelor Party. Everybody looked at Brandon believing this was his idea, had to be, but it was plain to even the ardent believer from the look of complete and utter shock on his face that Brandon had known nothing about the idea until this very moment. Surprise was replaced with awe, then exhilaration as he jumped up and grabbed his friend in a savage bear hug. All the guests smiled, happy for the two of them, even Leigh.
Brandon’s family had been concerned about him after the wedding announcement but as Brandon himself had demonstrated and voiced on numerous occasions, he was just happy for his friend, and as long as Lee was happy then so was Brandon. At times though, his brother and sister had seen the long face when Brandon had been sitting by himself believing he was not being observed. The pair worried about this and brought it to the attention of firstly Brandon who dismissed them as being “silly-billys”, then to their parents who advised them to leave well enough alone.
The big weekend finally arrived, faster than Brandon thought but they had been very busy with the wedding arrangement for the following weekend so the camping bachelor party weekend had crept up on him. After Lee had missed the turn-off, an ensuing and very normal and natural war of words had followed which, as usual, Brandon won.
“Sure pussy!” He repeated.
Lee ignored him. “You got cell coverage?” He reached and tapped at his dash mounted phone.
“Nope. Do we need it?”
“Nah, just told Leigh I would call when we arrived safely is all.”
“No worries, should get some kind of service as we climb, as long as this lake of yours isn’t tucked into some little valley or something.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.”
“How’d you know about this place anyhow?” Brandon was frowning and thinking whatever Lee knew, he knew too. Until now anyway.
Lee threw him a glance. “Remember Rogers, that idjut contract to build a bunch of cabins in the woods?” He saw Brandon nod and went on. “This is it.”
“Hey? But we didn’t take that contract.”
“No, I palmed it off sideways to Jeffrey’s, they did it, finished it up about a month ago and Jeff himself came around one night and gave me a key to the place. As a thank you for the job you know. Told me the official handover was at the end of the month and we should duck up here for a look before then … outstanding he described it.”
“Cool, can’t wait then. How far now?”
“Should only be a few more minutes, the road turns into a bit of a forest track but Jeff says it’s good all the way to the camp.”
“Cool,” Brandon repeated and reclined a little more in his seat, relaxed and more than looking forward to this little adventure.
Deep down inside he knew it might be their last time together for something like this. Sure, he’d always see Lee at work and they’d still catch up away from work at times but Brandon wasn’t completely stupid; he knew Lee and Leigh would be together more often than not when away from the obligations of work. He thought about how to make this weekend memorable, more memorable than just being the last. Memorable enough so that Lee would want more. He couldn’t think of anything.
The roadway depleted but a well maintained sandy track lead them through an ancient forest of huge trees. Firebreaks and the still obvious tire tracks on the sandy surface were the only signs of human life. Finally, they crested a small rise and the two of them gawped at the picturesque setting before them. Six wooden cabins were dotted amongst the tree line overlooking a still lake, the surface so smooth that the sky, clouds and the infringing mountains were reflected like a mirror. Lee had let his foot drop off the accelerator at the sight, such was the magnificence, and the SUV slowed to an idle crawl as they crept ever closer.
Brandon was the first to break the silence, “wow,” being the best he could conjure.
Lee finally applied pressure to the go pedal again and drove a little off to the right toward the furthest cabin. “Wow is right.”
The car stopped at the cosy verandah that fronted the cabin and both men sat in the surrounding stillness that followed after Lee turned off the engine. Brandon as usual, was the first to break the silence.
“Man, this is epic, we’re are going to so rip this place apart!”
“Sure bud, sure, but here … " Brandon glanced at his mate and saw him handing something to him. He reached out and took the key that Lee was offering as Lee went on, “go open up, make sure the fridge is on, gotta keep them beers cold!” he chuckled.
Brandon slipped of his seatbelt and bounded out of the car. He placed one foot on the first little step of the verandah and turned back to gaze at his friend through the open window. “Mate, we’re going to make this weekend something to remember!”
Lee nodded and beamed his best smile whilst shooing him on at the same time with one arm. “Get on with it idjut.”
“Sure, pussy,” Brandon exclaimed as he turned and bounded up and onto the verandah.
He reached the door and fumbled to put the key in the lock, “damn new locks,” he mumbled, but just as he successfully pushed the key home, the door opened. He stepped back to avoid the swinging door, and then froze at the intense shock of seeing Leigh standing in the open doorway. He didn’t even move as Leigh stepped forward quickly and thrust the large kitchen knife into his chest, once, twice, three times and then more and more and more as he staggered backwards, looking at Leigh, looking down at his chest, at the knife and the realization of what was happening. He turned his head to look at Lee still sitting in the car. It was but a split second, and he saw the smile still firmly ensconced on Lee’s face as he tumbled backwards off the stairs, taking the knife now fully buried to the hilt in his chest with him. Leigh looked over the body toward her future husband sitting and smiling at her in the car.”
Knew