David went to college with Lester Jones. They were college roommates and good friends. They each studied physics and graduated with honors. David went on to graduate school and Lester ventured out on his own. He always had the entrepreneurial spirit. Lester eventually started a computer programing company that assisted NASA with launch information, blast data, and many other things not understood by the common folks. He had recently sold the company and was certainly blessed to be able to retire early. He was only 45. Lester married a beautiful Puerto Rican named Janina when he graduated. He meet her at a physics conference in Philly and they were married a few months later.
David learned all this when he bumped into Lester at the grocery store a few weeks ago. They had no idea they even lived in the same state much less the same town. It was like a reunion that day in the store. They swapped a few stories and had a few laughs. They talked for ten minutes discussing how they could live just 15 miles from each other and not know.
"Dave, buddy. You need to come by. In fact, my wife is throwing a surprise birthday party for me in a couple weeks. Come by. Let's catch up."
"Doesn't sound like much of a surprise huh?"
"My wife isn't very good at it. So how long have you been married now?"
"About twenty years. You remember Anna from Dr. Krafter's class our senior year?"
"Yeah, I sure do. Oh my God. You two? You married her? She was a fox."
"No. The girl that sat next to her, Christi," laughed David. "And who calls a girl a fox anymore?"
"I guess I'm stuck in my teenage mind but what a beautiful place that mind is," joked Lester. "But seriously I want you and Christi to come by a week from this Saturday. Janina just had a new pool put in so she thought no better way to celebrate my birthday than to have a pool party. It's not a big party or a big deal either. Come by around 3:00 or so, please don't bring a gift. It's not really that kind of party besides I feel weird when people show up with presents and things. Bring a bottle of wine if you want to."
David and Christi pulled up to the guard shack at the front of the Jones' subdivision.
"We are here to see the Jones."
"No problem sir," replied to guard. "You can find their house two streets down on the left. Pull up to the valet and they will park for you."
"Oh OK. Thanks."
"Swanky friends you have David," she said jokingly.
"Yeah. This place is pretty nice. A valet for a party?"
They pulled around to the valet and stepped out of their Honda Civic. The valet proceeded to park it amongst a few Mercedes, Lexus, and some type of foreign sports cars and convertible.
He took a deep breath. "OK. Let's hit it," he said.
They began the walk up to the majestic entrance to the home and was greeted at the door by Janina. The lovely Janina flashed her million dollar smile and she tightened the bikini wrap tied around her waste. She was stunning.
"Oh my goodness! Hi there!" Janina said in a thick Puerto Rican accent. "Lester has told me all about you! Come in please."
We stepped in the foyer and immediately heard Lester scream, "Cannonball" and launch himself into the pool.
"Oh that Lester. Please let me take the wine. I'll sit it over with the rest of the bottles. You can set you gift over with the rest." She gave each a hug.
David did bring a small gift. General rule of thumb says he has to show up with a gift to a birthday party, regardless of if the host says not to. He looked over toward the fireplace where the was a stack of large presents, with exquisite wrapping paper, bows, and streamers. David clinched his gift as he walked over to drop zone. He was obviously a little apprehensive to place his small gift that was shroud in crinkly old paper and an old Christmas bow amongst the perfectly wrapped quests' gifts. When he returned to his wife's side.
David inconspicuously whispered in Christy's ear. "I think some people bought him a gas grill? Look at the size of some of those presents. He may even have a flat screen TV over there!"
So the evening went on and Lester was introducing David and his wife to all the guests. Some guests were dressed to the nines and some were wearing their bathing suits and enjoying the swim up pool bar seats under the waterfall. It was a beautiful afternoon to have a pool party.
David has been teaching physics at the local high school since a he graduated. Not the best paying job in the world but it's a living he loved sharing his knowledge. You could tell by the way some of his conversation went with the other guests. He would get over their head while explaining anything related to his profession.
So the fire pit was lit and Lester was sitting up by the presents. His wife tapped her glass and called attention in the room. She thanked everyone for coming and stated Lester was going to open his presents. Lester being a modest fellow first declined but Janina has a way of talking anyone into anything.
"What kind of party is this? Who opens gifts in front of all their guests? That's for seven year olds not grown adults," he again whispered to Christi.
So Lester began opening his gifts. A gas grill, Tiffany crystal, fancy artwork, and cases of fancy wine like Silver Oak and Antinori Solaia. He then grabbed David's gift.
"This one is from David and his wonderful wife Christi. I haven't seen David in 20 years and we happened to run into each other a few weeks ago. What a pleasure it is to have them here this evening."
"Just for the record, I did not have any doing in picking the gift," joked Christi.
Lester pealed the paper off it and just starred at it for a few seconds. He then looked up directly at David and again starred for a few seconds before he spoke.
"Really? This is what you got me? I can't believe this."
Everyone turned around to look at David. He just stood there feeling out of place, almost out of his league with this group of people.
"Are you kidding me," Lester said. "This is awesome!"
He pulled out a pack of Ramen Noodles and proudly held them up so everyone could see.
"Oh man, we ate these things every day of our life for four years in college. You even got the beef flavor kind! Guys, this man and I shared some of the best times of our life together. Many of the memories we have forgotten but as soon as I saw these Ramen Noodles I recalled many things I haven't thought of in decades. We would have some of our best discussions over various physics theories and other nerdy topics that aren't of interest to much of you here tonight." He began to tear up a little bit and walked over and hugged David then gently kissed Christi on her check.
"He whispered, "You have a wonderful man here with a wonderful heart."
"Dave, out of all the gifts I got tonight, which by the way, I didn't know Janina told the other guests to bring one, these Ramen Noodles and cheap wine are the ones that I will cherish forever. He raised his glass. "Here's to lifelong friendships that are full of many years of void and many years of memories. I hope to enjoy many more memories with you guys. Salud."
They all tapped their plastic cups in agreement.
Love Your work, Bobby. Keep on writing!
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