Rapture, Blister, Burn

I knew this wouldn’t be weird. And you know what? I knew that night you called.

Really?

Yes. That we were able to just chat like that after ten years… that’s true friendship — when a whole decade doesn’t matter.

It’s more than a decade, actually.

That was a terrible day.

Oh, good! Can we say that now?

Daddy’s ex-girlfriend maybe didn’t have to meet the baby.

And maybe not at Christmas…

I need to say that we’re proud of you.

Thank you.

I quit drinking.

You mentioned that.

I had a problem. And part of my recovery is about, you know, expressing feelings, not drinking them down. So I need to say that I feel very proud of your achievements.

Gwen, that means a lot to me.

She sorta gave up drinking and took up talking.

I can see that.

But she really means it. And I do, too.

Do you?

Are you kidding? When you were on TV that time, we made Julian watch.

Which time was that?

It was the, uh, the late night show. On cable. You know… where the comedian talks current events with a panel of mismatched experts—

Bill Maher.

I said no, she’s the hot chick sitting between the senator and the rapper.

Yep, that’s me. My credibility falls between senator and rapper.

What’d he call you… the “hot doomsday chick”?

Yeah…

That’s… You got the sexy scholar gig. We were proud as hell of you.

That makes me really happy, Don. Thanks.

I’m sorry about your mom. She doing OK?

She’s recovering.

Did Don have you sign our books?

No.

Of course he didn’t. Would you?

Sure. To Don and Gwen?

Yeah. Thanks. There’s backstory here. Generally I care about people’s injuries.

What’s the backstory?

Let’s see. Twelve years of backstory. Where to begin? Don doesn’t teach anymore.

You mentioned that.

Don hired some dopehead to mow it and he never shows.

Nice he tries to help them.

It’s what you said, right? It’s that forty-something thing where you start thinking about the life not lived.

When did I say that?

The night you called. You don’t remember?

I was sort of… drunk.

I know. We used to drink so much. The three of us.

We were young.

Don never really stopped. I guess you didn’t either.

I drink pretty modestly. Since my mom’s heart attack, I’ve been hitting it kinda hard. What else did I say that night?

You were hilarious. You just spat out all these needs, like… “I’m drunk and my mom is dying and I’m coming home and I need a job.” She’s not really dying, is she?

She had a heart attack. Both her sisters had heart attacks and died within the year, so… I feel like a clock just started ticking.

Oh, no.

Thank you for… I know you got Don to give me this teaching gig.

Oh, please. He should get a promotion out of this. You’re Miss New York Ivy League famous…

Well, it came together so fast; I just know you must have helped it along.

Because Don’s so lazy and slow? Yeah, I nudged, but that’s what I do for him. I’m keeper of his to-do list.

September’s so far away. I wish I’d asked to teach summer school.

Tell Don. And I’ll put it on his list. If I put it on his list, it’ll happen.

What else did I say that night? I’m not a blackout drunk. This is… special circumstances. My mom.

I know. You said you didn’t want to be angry at us anymore. You forgave us.

That was generous of me.

You wanna teach him battered women should be punished?

He has a point.

No, but it’s his fault. He put her in harm’s way.

How’d he do that?

We could make a run for it. Skip dinner, go to a bar and get hammered…

That sounds wonderful.

I saw your mother at the Stop n’ Shop. She looks pretty good for a lady who just had a heart attack.

She shouldn’t be out shopping. That’s partly why I came home.

If you need errands done, I got a teenager who’ll do ‘em for nect to nothing.

Your sensitive son?

You gotta meet him. He wants to be an actor.

Really?

We need these kids to bankroll our old age.

Sounds like you got a good shot at it with Devon.

Hope so. You want another beer?

I’m OK. But speaking of alcohol… I am in the awkward position of not remembering everything I said when I called that night.

We were surprised as hell to get that call… Were you at a bar or something?

Outside a bar, yeah.

Did you still have our number in your phone?

Oh, no. I had to call information.

You drunk-dialed information. Well, isn’t that something?

It’s humiliating.

It’s fantastic. You can memorize ten digits drunk.

No, you can just… stay on the line while they connect the call.

Oh, yeah?

It costs like a dollar-fifty. Don, please don’t fuck with me. I asked Gwen and I can tell she’s holding back.

Honey, I don’t know. I was downstairs on the computer.

I have this feeling I said things that should embarrass me.

If you did, I’d know about it; Gwen can’t keep anything to herself.

I know we’re all set for the fall, but do you have anything this summer?

What, like summer school?

I need something to do. Besides hang out with my mom and drink.

Summer’s already registered, but… Let me see if anyone has a waiting list.

Thanks.

You drinking too much?

A little.

Sick mother gives you a pass.

I don’t want a pass. I want to teach summer school.