Chapter Forty-One: New Year’s Eve:

Today, 2010 ends. Usually, this is a depressing time of year for me. I just stay at home and drink until the ball drops. Nothing impressive. However, this year is different. Bekkah was determined to it that way.

“Let’s go out today,” she suggested that morning. I looked up at her over my vodka.

“Why?” I asked. She gave me a little shrug.

“We stayed in all of Christmas,” that girl said. “Can’t we get out today?”

“I don’t know…” I said half-heartedly.

“Please?” she pleaded.

“What’s wrong with staying here?”

“I just want to get out today. Please?”

I was about to argue against her again when my phone rang.

“Excuse me,” I said. I reached over and picked up my phone. “Hello?” I asked.

“Happy New Year!” a familiar Irish voice screamed on the other line. I held the phone away from my ear.

“Happy New Year, Duck,” I mumbled. I glanced up and noticed Bekkah’s puzzled face. I stood up and walked into the bathroom.

“How are you?” Duck asked.

“Good…” I said.

“That’s smashing,” she said.

“What do you want, Duck?”

“Can’t I talk to my good buddy, Mickey?”

“Please don’t call me that.”

“What’cha up to today?”

“Not much.”

“Awww.”

I frowned. “What was that for?”

“You said that on Christmas.”

“Then you, Raccoon, Venus, and Kitty had to come and crash the Christmas I was sharing with Bekkah!”

“Speaking of which, how is that little lass?”

“Good.”

“It’s settled, I’m coming to pick you and Bekkah up at one!”

I narrowed my eyes at those words. “Why?”

“We’re all going out on a whole day on the town!”

“Uh… who’s ‘we’?” I asked.

“You, me, and the girls.”

“Wait! You’re inviting Raccoon, Venus, and Kitty too?”

“Of course. I’ll get you at eleven o’clock!”

“Duck!” I shouted at her. She hung up before I could protest. I stared at my phone. Damn it, Duck!, I thought. Why do you always do this? Too late to try and convince her otherwise too. Well, might as well go out. I walked back into the kitchen where I found Bekkah waiting for me.

“Was that Duck on the phone?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I said. “It looks like we are going out today.” Bekkah’s eyes lit up like the little Christmas tree that she put away moments earlier while I was on the phone.

“Really?” she asked. “You mean it?” I pressed my lips together as I nodded.

“Yes,” I said. “We will leave at eleven o’clock.”

“That’s thirty minutes from now. Alright. What should I wear?” Bekkah asked. I threw up my hands at her.

“Whatever you like,” I said. She squealed and clapped her hands together.

“Great!” she said. “I’ll be right back.” Then, she raced down the hall to her room. I just buried my head in my hands at the table. Not how I wanted to my New Year’s Eve this year. I just wanted to drink and stay home. No, Duck and Bekkah had to push me to go out. Great, just great!

“Michael!” I heard Bekkah call me. “How do I look?” I looked up to see her dressed up in a little black dress that was surprising age-appropriate for her. She wasn’t trying to dress up like a stripper earlier in the year. I couldn’t help but smile.

“Beautiful,” I said. “Really beautiful.” Bekkah gave me a bright smile. But then, she frowned at me.

“Do I have to pretend to be your niece again?” she asked.

“Yeah,” I said. “Unless you want me to go to prison.”

“But you don’t do anything to me,” she pointed out.

“This is true,” I replied. “But the general public doesn’t know that and so, you are my niece again today.” She’s not impressed with the lies, but she knows that this must take place.

“Please nice today,” she said. I looked at her funny.

“Why? It’s not like we’re going anywhere fancy,” I said.

“Please?” Bekkah asked.

“Fine,” I said. “Give me a moment.” I got up and walked back to my room. I already am not enjoying this day.

By eleven, Duck pounded on my door. I peeked out to see her with Kitty at her side. Now that’s a shocker there. How the hell did she manage to pull that one off? Beth is a territorial person. She refuses to share anything with anyone, especially men. I slowly opened the door.

“Ladies!” I greeted them. “So nice to see you… together again.” Duck leaned in close to my face.

“That’s right!” she said. I glanced over and noticed Kitty glaring at her.

“Okay,” I cut it. “It’s actually a shock to see you both here together. How did that happen?”

“Funny story, actually,” Kitty spoke up. “I was on my way here and I spotted Joy walking this way. So I followed her.” I only nodded at her.

“Is that right?” I asked. Duck peeked inside my apartment.

“Where’s Bekkah?” she asked. “Is she coming out soon?”

“I’m here,” Bekkah herself replied as she came over to my side. Duck backed up with a grin on her face.

“Excellent!” she said. “We’re all here!”

“Not really,” I said. “Where are Raccoon and Venus?”

“They’ll meet up with us at the French Quarter,” Kitty replied. “Now, let’s go! I’m starving!” Joy gave her a face of fake surprise.

“What? You mean models actually eat?” she asked. Kitty frowned and pushed her in the side.

“Shut up!” she hissed.

“Ladies!” I said. “Please break it up. It’s New Year’s Eve. Let’s just get this over with and make the most of it.”

“I’m fine!” Kitty said. “Can you just get her to stop making stereotypes about my career?” I sighed aloud. This is going to be a long day.

The four of us headed out in the cool New Orleans noon. It still felt weird to be out like this. I looked around to see I could spot anyone I know. My guess is that those bastards are already partying away the last day of 2009, drinking. I would be doing the same thing. Yet, here am I with these ladies about to meet the other two for lunch and then god knows where after that. I felt someone take hold of my hand. I looked down to see Bekkah smiling up at me. I try to push away her hand.

“Come on now,” I whispered.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“We’re out in public!” I whispered. Damn, she won’t let go at all.

“It’s fine,” she said. “I’m just holding your hand, nothing else.”

“Yeah, but…” I said.

“It’s okay,” Bekkah insisted. I gave her a bit of a look with my eyes. When did she become this assertive and persistent? I might have to keep an eye on her if I’m not careful.

We all made it down to the French Quarter. Duck led us over to the Flying Maid’s Restaurant. I spotted Raccoon and Venus in the window.

“Oh goody,” Duck said. “They saved us a table. Come on! Let’s go!” She raced all the way up to the glass doors. Kitty, Bekkah, and I all followed behind. That woman… Just about anything to do with alcohol and food excites her so easily.

“Amy! Violet!” Duck called aloud as we made our way over to our saved table. Venus and Raccoon looked up to see that the crazy Irish chick flagging them down. They gave us a small wave. We joined them and took our seats.

“Waiting long?” I asked.

“No, actually,” Raccoon said, Venus lit up a cigarette and took a smoke.

“Uh… could you please not do that here?” Bekkah asked. My songbird glanced up at her with a cross look in her eyes.

“Mind your own business, brat!” she said.

“Amy, please?” I asked. She groaned aloud to herself.

“Fine,” she grumbled. Venus snubbed out her cigarette in the ashtray on the table.

“Thank you,” I said. A waitress came over to our table.

“Is everyone here?” she asked.

“Yes,” Venus replied.

“Okay,” the waitress said. “What would everyone like to drink?” One coke, three beers, one Grey Goose, and one water. The waitress wrote down our orders.

“Okay then,” she said. “I’ll be right back with your drinks.” I glanced at that short bright green skirt as she walked away. My attention turned back to Duck.

“How did you find this place?” I asked.

“Just by looking around,” she said. I gave her a slight nod.

“Wow, it’s almost 2010 already,” Bekkah said.

“I know, right?” Kitty replied.

“What are all of your New Year’s Resolutions?” Bekkah asked. The girls all took a moment to think about that.

“To have more fun,” Duck said.

“Be my own woman,” Kitty answered.

“Make things better for myself,” Raccoon said in soft voice.

“To relax more,” Venus replied. They all looked at her.

“And what about you?” Kitty asked. “What are your resolutions?” Bekkah sat at the table smiling, with her hands pressed together.

“I just want to bring a change to my life,” she said. “I’m tired of the same old things, you know?” The girls all nodded in slight agreement. My fake niece then turned her attention to me.

“What about you, Michael?” she asked. I glanced over at her with a little smile on my face.

“I don’t do those types of things,” I said. My girls looked at me as if I had just lost my mind.

“What?!?” they asked.

“Why not?” Bekkah questioned. I sat back with my arms behind my head.

“I never really believed in it, I guess,” I said. Bekkah pouted at me.

“That’s not really fun,” she complained.

“Sorry,” I brushed off. “That’s just how I am.” Cleary, Bekkah looked rather disappointed in my answer. Sorry, girl; I’ve always been this way. Our waitress all returned with our drinks. From there, we ordered lunch. Duck raised up her beer as we waited for our food.

“To the new year!” she called out.

“To the new year!” we all echoed with our drinks in the air. We all touched glasses and took a drink. Oh goodness, I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun out on the town with a group of people. I may not be able to remember every detail of that day like everything that we ate or every single funny little joke that was said, but it didn’t matter. Those girls made that New Year’s Eve rather cheerful than all of my previous ones after college.

“Hey, little all go by Little Eddy’s and watch the ball drop there!” Kitty said aloud. I rolled my eyes.

“Do we have to?” I asked, half-joking.

“Of course!” she said. “We only have thirty more minutes until the new year. Let’s spend it watching the ball drop over drinks!”

“Yeah!” Duck cheered. I threw up my hands.

“Fine, fine,” I said. “We’ll do that.”

“Follow me!” Kitty commanded. As expected, she let the way to the little bar/restaurant that was just a couple of blocks away from the hotel she was staying at. From there led more drinking and good times. It felt kind of strange for me to be this happy. I’m usually the bored black hole in the group with my drink, wishing to go home. In my opinion, the night could’ve just gone forever and I wouldn’t complain at all.

“Look! The ball’s about to drop!” Kitty called as she pointed at the TV in the high corner. We all looked up at Time Square on broadcast.

Ten… Nine… Eight… Seven… Six… Five… Four… Three… Two… One… Happy New Year!

However, this would be the last time the girls and I would spend any time together like this.