Men of the Skull Chapter 60: Raid

Trying to get drunk when under 21 was sometimes difficult back in the day, despite the comparatively lax rules.

I had some people over for a small gathering.  Dave was supposed to bring the beer, as he was the only one of us who was over 21 at that point.  (He's now 54.  I feel old.)

I wrote this chapter in 2005- fifteen years ago.  I saw Dave a few months ago when he and his wife visited State College.  And yes- he brought this up- now 33 years later.

I guess after all these years, and with all the changes and everything, he thought I would feel bad about this.

Nope!  Not one bit!  And when I said that, his wife laughed loudly.

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Chapter 61: Raid

            Friday, April 10 1987  Scarfo Indicted in Judge’s Death

“That asshole isn’t coming, is he?” snapped Virginia.

“He doesn’t feel like hauling the beer all the way down from North Halls” I replied.

“Shit” sighed Mandy.

             Virginia, Mandy, and Virginia’s “little sister” Laura waited in my apartment for an hour before I finally called Dave.  The idea was that Dave would supply the beer and I would supply the women for a night of drinking and fun.  Maybe Dave would get lucky, but I doubted it.  

Now we sat and fumed in my living room.

“I thought you said this guy was cool,” Laura said.  Laura left transferred to Temple from PSU last year.  She pledged little sister at Crow, selected Virginia as her big, finished the program, and left.  She was short- about Judy’s height, slightly heavy, big breasts, shortish blonde hair and a pretty face with bright blue eyes.  Her voice rasped liked she smoked three packs a day, but she never smoked in her life.

“Well, he’s apparently fucking lazy too” snorted Virginia.

“He lives in North Halls?” asked Mandy.

“Yeah.  Runkle Hall.”  I replied.

“Did he say we couldn’t go there?”

“No.  Actually he said we could come up if we wanted, but he wasn’t coming here.”

Mandy stood up and straightened her leather mini skirt.  “I say we drink him dry.”

Collegian April 10, 1987

Virginia looked at me and smiled an evil smile.  She stood up.  Then Laura, then me.  And so we merrily walked across College Avenue and up the long hill to the north side of campus, scheming as we went.

After knocking on Dave’s door, Mandy called out “Open up!  A bunch of hot sluts want to fuck!” 

The door opened quickly.

Dave had a case of Bud longnecks.  Dave sat in his chair, Sven in his, Tim on a bed with the case between them, and each had a beer under their belt already.  Four down, twenty to go.  Quick introductions followed.  Dave offered beer to the ladies, and opened them.  Virginia sat next to me on the other bed, Mandy on the desk next to Dave, and Laura next to Tim. 

            Dave had a small makeshift table set up in the middle of us all- some particleboard on top of a milk crate.  Virginia innocently suggested we play “Up the River Down the River,” as it was a game we could play even if not right next to the “table.”  Sven and Tim enthusiastically agreed.  Dave agreed reluctantly.

The rules were simple: The dealer deals 4 cards to each player (including himself), then eight cards in the middle, in two rows of four.  The dealer flips over the first card and announces, "(Card) drinks 1.”  Any player who has a matching card (number) drinks one drink.  If a player has two of the same number (like two 3's) the player drinks double or if player has 3 of the same number then triple.  The dealer flips over 2nd card and announces, "(Card) drinks 2 .”  Any player who has a matching card drinks two drinks (if double, drink 4 drinks, if triple, drink 6 drinks, etc.).  Next card drink 3, then drink 4 to finish off one row.  Now it's time to go back down the river. Dealer flips the end card and says, "(Card) gives 4.”  Any player who matches the dealt card gives 4 drinks to anyone, then give 3, give 2 drinks, and give 1.  Drinks could be split if desired (you drink 2, you drink 1.)  We always played “aces make the rules” so if you had an ace and it came up on the table, you could make a rule.  Rules would carry over if the cards were dealt again.

The game started quickly, with Virginia drinking four on a pair of aces among others.  Rules: standard (No d-d-d, no names, no pointing), and no cursing.  Dave hated “no cursing.”

As the drinks started to be given, the elbows pointed between our little cabal of raiders (when the rules say no pointing, everyone uses elbows).  We gave Dave a token drink or two, but for the most part kept hitting each other.  New rule: “Bull moose”- you can only drink with your left hand.  If caught drinking right, you finish the drink in a single chug. 

First game finished, twelve beers left.  Deal again?  “Sure!” chirped Tim, thinking he might get some action from Laura.  After all, Carolyn was out with her friends that night.

Second game- Sven dealt, and started with “Drink 4” instead of drink 1, and counted down from there.  Kings drank 4; I had a pair of kings.  Third beer! 

Three, two, one, and around the corner to give one, two.  Aces give two- Mandy had triple aces, and gave two drinks each to Virginia, Laura and me.  New rules:  5s are a social and 4s are “popsicle” – last one to touch their nose drinks.  Kings give three- I gave them to Dave.  Give four.  Second game over.  Seven beers left. 

“Up for another one, Dave, or you going to let a girl out-drink you?”  Mandy asked.  She had four beers to his two and a half.

“Deal ‘em!”  He called, flinging a hand up for emphasis.  I dealt the cards for game three.

Drink 1, 2, Sven had an ace on 3.  Rule:  before drinking you had to say “God bless Ronald Reagan!”  Drink 4… POPSICLE!  Virginia lost and drank.  Tim spilled his beer.  “Sloppy drink!”  Drink twice!

Round the corner, Give 4- deuces, and Mandy had two.  Four for me and four for Virginia.  “Bull moose!”  Laura absent-mindedly sipped using her right hand.  She chugged and accepted another beer.  Give 3…2…Social!  “To beer!”  Dave toasted, then we gave the mandatory “God bless Ronald Reagan.”  Drink 1.  Game three over.  Three beers left.

Golden chair- bathroom break!  Most of us scrambled down the hall to take a leak.  After finishing up, I bumped into Virginia in the hall.  She pulled me around the corner away from the room into the stairwell, took my head in her hands and kissed me passionately.  Hands roamed.  I was fondling her right breast, her hand down my pants when Dave turned the corner.

“I thought so!”  He crowed.  “It’s not like you two are subtle!”

We smiled and fixed ourselves.

“Don’t tell anyone.  We want to keep it quiet” I said. 

Dave nodded.  “No problem.”  He knew about Judy.

Back to the room.  Game four- Tim dealt.  Virginia and Tim both opened a new beer each.  Play moved quickly.  Take 1…2…  Mandy finished her beer, and opened the last one.  Take 3…Social!  “Penn State!” toasted Laura.  Take 4.  Round the corner.  Give 4…3…Dave kept feeding drinks to Virginia, which she eagerly drank.  Carolyn came in, dressed in tight jeans and a striped top that showcased her assets.  Give 2.  Tim was dumbfounded- he didn’t expect her back so soon.  Give 1.  Game over.  No more beer.  Our little group of four chugged what was left of our beers.  Stood up, thanked Dave for the beer. And walked out.  We’d been there maybe half an hour, tops.  Dave looked stunned. 

We laughed all the way back to my apartment. 

Many years later, Dave still talks about that night, usually using the word “bastards” as he does so.

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