Rick
Derek Muk
Derek Muk has been plugging away at "Revenge", "The Body Under
the Bridge", and now "Rick", the sequel to "Revenge". Need I say
more? "Revenge" was a very intriguing story; if you would like
the background for this story, you should read it (Volume 1 Number
4).
It was October 30, 1987 - yet just another week ending for Rick
Bannon. It was Friday, and that was good enough. He just got out
of his introduction to geology class.
With his books in hand, he walked down a hill, made his way across
the UC Berkeley campus, to the Bear's Lair.
It was a little after 2:30 as he arrived, not noticing anybody
he knew. He looked to his right and saw some of the freshmen gossiping
over "cute guys" again. Two blonde girls both giggled as he stood
in line. He shook his head, laughing to himself, and ignored them.
By the time he got back to his apartment on Fulton Street, his
roommates were gone. He went over to the dining room table where
a note was left. It read:
Rick-we went to Jeff's. We won't be back until seven. Food's in
the refrigerator. Enjoy!
- Ralph.
And if Rick knew Jeff, he definitely knew his roommates would
be gone longer than seven in the evening.Good o' Jeff. The guy
would give free joints, angel dust, speed and hard liquor to his
good o' campus buddies. Jeff belonged to one of the frats up there.
He forgot which one,and he didn't really care.
All he wanted was a cool glass of ice water after that hot walk.
After a shower,the phone rang just in time for him to recieve
it.
"Hello?" Rick said.
"Yeah,this is Chris. How's it go'in?"
"All right, I suppose. What's up with you?"
Nothin' much. Hey,wanna come with me to some chick's house tonight?"
After Chris made that remark he got all revved up. He breathed
hard into the reciever, hard enough for Rick to smell his breath.
"Who's this chick?"
"You don't know her. But she's got a friend, another girl friend
that is, with her. So I was think'in,how's 'bout it Ricky boy?"
"You sound all juiced up Chris. Strange in a young intellectual
man like you. No thanks, and don't call back." And with that,
Rick slammed the phone down with a smirk on his face.
He didn't go to some 'chick's' house that night. But he did go
to Taiwan Restuarant down on University Avenue. The tea was brewed
just right for this cool brisk night.
After dinner, he drove his Honda Accord hatchback back on Durant,and
parked across from Kip's.
It was nice to be alone on a night like this. It was Friday, second
to the last day of the week. He ought to cheer up, but remained
solemn and impassive. He hung his head low as he walked along
Telegraph. Occasionally he would turn his head to look at the
oncoming cars and store windows, but nothing was really inspirational.
He dug his hands into his Levi's jean pockets, staring at his
tennis shoes as he walked along.
Suddenly, with his head down,he was bumped by someone. He looked
up and recognized his friend, Kurt Erickson. He was a slender
young man,around his height, always wearing a 49er's jacket.
Rick's face blushed with excitement as he saw him.
"Oh my god, Kurt, where the hell have you been? Whole floor last
year was wondering where you were."
"Rick,it's good to see you. But you'd better tell the gang I transferred.
I'm sorry it was on such short notice. I'm in L.A. now."
Kurt looked sullen as he said it.
"It's okay. Good place nonetheless. Anyway, I remember you telling
me about a transfer; oh, I'd say about a year ago. But you never
got around to it."
"Yeah, but I finally got it together. I like me classes and the
atmosphere too. And besides, I got together with Wayne,and we
split the rent together on a room. You remember Wayne?"
"Yeah,I do. Used to play raquetball with him on the weekends.
Gave me some good whoops in the butt too! That guy was hella good.
Hey,you guys have to come back. It's just great up here."
Kurt scratched his curly brown hair and said,"Yeah, we'd better."
Rick then said,"want to talk it over some drinks? I'll pay for
yours as usual."
"Why not? You've been good to me all these years."
They went to Blondie's, bought two Cokes, and walked down Telegraph.
Most of the stores were still open with their neon lit signs.
It was crowded tonight. Most of the people on the streets were
students and high schoolers trying to catch up with the nightlife.
"Well,this may be my last time seeing you for a while. I have
a pretty busy schedule afterwards. That chem class I have on Thursday
is a pain. Then after that, I tutor someone. Weekends are when
I can live it up. And seeing friends like you make it worthwhile."
"Thanks" Rick said grinning widely.
They finished their Cokes and stood at the corner of Dwight Way
and Telegraph. The distant beat of reggae music being played on
the street made it livelier.
"This way" Rick said and crossed the street.
They went down a block near Cody's.
"So what else has been happening besides school?" asked Kurt.
"Nothing much." Rick hung his head low as he asked.
"Oh c'mon, there must be. Anything I should know about our mischievous
dorm pals?"
"You never heard about it did you?"
"Heard about what?"
They crossed another street and sat on a bench, outside a cafe.
"It's really not important."
"What's not important?"
"I shouldn't be telling you this.."
"Tell me what? What is it Rick. If you think it's too personal,
you better not tell me."
Rick looked up into Kurt's eyes - his dark brown eyes. He stared
at them a moment, studying them. Then a moment later, he nodded
slowly in approval.
"You should know. You were one of us."
Kurt stopped asking him questions and just sat there. He just
sat there and listened to Rick making senseless statements.
"You should know.........Yoooo.....Yuuu shooul....ld know....."
"Rick, what's going on. You alright?" Kurt asked.
Rick shook his head frantically and said, "No." He then cried
slowly, making miserable noises as people passed by them.
"You shouuuld........knoooow...Kurt" he said.
Rick then placed his elbows on his knees, and hung his head down.
Then, he wiped the tears off.
Kurt was speechless. He didn't know what to do. Finally he put
his left hand on Rick's shoulder. Rick jumped as he did so, not
looking up. Then Kurt moved in closer and said, "Hey Rick. You
alright? I'd just wish you tell me what's going on. It wouldn't
hurt." He said it quietly.
After a while, Rick sat up, his tears gone.
"I guess I should tell you about the tragedy."
"What? What tragedy?"
"You see, after you left, a bunch of us went down to Death Valley.
Just a bunch of senseless teenagers looking for a ride ad a helluva
time. But that never happened. Dave, Kathy, Tony and Wendy........they
all passed away.......oh god.....it was....."
Rick started to cry again, letting them come out in streams now.
Kurt held Rick closer now, his head to his shoulder.
It was so puzzling that all Kurt could say was ".....oh my god....."
They sat there, head on shoulder for about half an hour, letting
the crowds pass. But they did not care.
When he woke up,Rick found himself lying on his couch. He looked
out the window and noticed the daylight. Then he noticed Kurt
sitting by the windowsill at the other window.
"How long have I been like this?"
"Since last night. You woke up from time to time,but you were
too groggy to drive home. Don't worry,the car's still in the garage.
I drove it for you"he said chuckling.
"Yeah,I knew you would like Hondas. You told me before...."
Rick put his head down on the arm support. He looked up at the
ceiling and said, "Those poor bastards still aren't back are they?"
"Your roommates? Nope. Who are they anyway?"
"You don't want to know. But let me tell ya, I don't know how
in hell I ever got stuck with them!" Rick laughed aloud after
that, but he knew it wasn't so funny after all.
He sighed and said,"I don't know Kurt. I haven't really been myself
since the tragedy. I'm not the complete Rick you knew half a year
ago."
"That's okay, people change."
Rick turned his head and got up slowly.
He straightened his clothes then went to a mirror. He flipped
out a comb and began combing his blonde hair back.
"But is it worth it?" he said.
"I don't know. You tell me, I haven't really noticed any."
"Yeah," Rick said and turned back towards him.
"Look, I'm sorry about what happened. If I found out earlier,I
would of came over. Dammit Rick,you should of told me. It's not
worth it,bottling up all those emotions. Can't believe it though.
Never even heard about it, Hell,I even forgot where I was half
the summer. Damn. Have you told anybody else?"
"No. Who wants to know. And who cares?" Rick said softly.
I'm glad I was the first to know. I do care."
Rick went over to the kitchen sink,turned on the faucet,and washed
his hands. Then he washed his face slowly in the warm water. After
that,he let the water drip slowly from his face. He didn't bother
wiping it. He just stood there,by the sink,sighing heavily. He
was damn weary of it all. Of life, of tragedies, of everything.
He was a totally different person last week. He remembered quite
clearly. He remembered the party at Kelley Allen's house. Then
the drive up Grizzly Peak,where another party was in the process.
It was crazy. He remembered the brash amount of students there,drooling
beer,smoking weed and getting laid. It was bedlam girls and hard,palpitating
rock music that night. He still felt the throb in his head as
he recalled it back.
He was normal for the past week,until Kurt popped up from no where.
And god knows why. But he didn't want to take his frustrations
out on him. He didn't how to react. He just stood there,with the
warm water still streaming rapidly down his cheeks.
Kurt was silent for a while,then he got up from the windowsill.
"Listen Rick,I'm glad you told me . You had to tell someone. And
we were all friends. Uhhh,I don't know what else to say" he said,shrugging
his shoulders.
"You don't have to say anything,I understand. Let's forget it
for now."
Kurt nodded.
"So" Rick said with new energy,"what's up for you today?"
"I don't know. What're you doing?"
"I really can't say. But I really wouldn't mind spending some
more time with you" he said smiling.
"Likewise. So what's the plan?"
"How about a reunion with the old dorm mates?" he asked with a
queer smile.
Kurt thought it over and said,"Nahhh,let's spend the afternoon
alone."
"Okay,I got an idea."
After that,they loaded up Rick's Honda with equipment. And on
top of the car,they tied a long yellow canoe to the rack.
"That should do it"Rick said. He pulled the rope one last time
to check it's strength.
"All set?" Kurt said.
"Yep."
They got in and drove east on Interstate 80,towards the American
River in Sacramento.
"Rick?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for the company. You're one of the best damn friends I
ever had."
"Don't mention it" he said and chuckled slightly.
Copyright 1987 by Derek Muk. Unauthorized duplication,
posting, or publication is strictly prohibited.
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