Chapter 69

OOF

“My house?”

“Yup,” Missy grinned. “Kegger”. She caught the look on his face. “Umh ... you didn’t know? OOPS.”

“Who is throwing it and who is coming?” He asked. “And no I didn’t know.”

“Why not? It’s your house.”

“We went to Frankfort.”

“What on earth for?”

“A little problem with the Coast Guard.” He said, “You didn’t answer my question. Who is throwing the party?”

“Summer folk ... and a bunch of guys from Central Michigan and Ferris State.” Then her mind caught up, “Coast Guard?”

“Never mind ... Who is coming?” Burt was a bit stern. Didn’t phase Missy one iota.

“Everybody. All the High School kids ... everybody canceled the dance at Houghton. It’s gonna be the party of the century. The councilors from that new resort, SanSouCie are coming.” She noticed the ‘vacant’ look. “Down by Bear Lake ... Where have you been?”

“In college. What the Hell.” Not a question.

The crew loaded up and Missy peeled out. Burt rode shotgun.

One sixteen was crowded with cars heading north.

“Oh God,” said Burt.

“Ain’t it great.” Also not a question.

“Missy? You’re what... 15?”

“Pulleese... 16 ... almost 17.”

“You don’t look it ... but ... you Are driving. What’s under the tarp in the box?”

“Beer.”

“Great ... just great. You know that’s the princess riding back there?”

“She lowered the age of consent.”

“When did she do that?”

“Where did you go to college? Out of country?”

“The states ... Fed A,” he confessed.

“Why?”

“I wanted a good education.”

The line cars turning off 116 on to Piney Ridge Road convinced Burt that the end of life as he knew it was coming ... soon. Not geologic soon ... soon like maybe ... tomorrow. He groaned.

The west side of Piney Ridge is State Forest. No construction. Just a vast expanse of sand, grass and ... parking. Parking up to the treeline. There were ‘directors’ directing the parking.

“Oh God.” Burt whined.

Missy didn’t even notice his discomfort. She shouted, “Beer here.” She was directed past the directors and backed up to the garage. Soon unloaded, she parked behind the tipi.

“Ain’t it great!” She was looking forward to a good time.

One thing ... Junior is 18 ... and not all that grown up. “YUP! Party!”

Burt was evicting the few who had taken over the lodge.

“My house,” he said. “My lodge ... MY SLEEPING BAG! OUT! ... GET OUT!”

They got.

All those manly tanned chests ... and womanly ones, too.

Missy took off her tee. Yup ... growing up in the Princessapality.