The Brothers

by Michael Bronte

  Chapter 1… The Reunion

  “Do you remember the time Stokes was making his famous bubble gum punch and he dropped that bottle of grain alcohol on the cement steps leading up to the porch?”

  “Sure do. Someone flicked a cigarette and the whole thing went whoooosh! Went up like a volcano and singed the eyebrows right off my face.”

  Another round of Genny Cream Ales materialized out of nowhere. “Whoa there, princess. This ain’t like the old days.” The young female bartender wrinkled her pierced nose as she thumbed to the other end of the bar. “I was told that if I got any protest from you two pantywaists that you need to take it up with Fighting Al.”

  “Aw come on, Bones,” Fighting Al called out through the crowd. “One more won’t kill you. I remember when we used to drink six of those before we even broke the seal.”

  “Yeah, well, now my bladder feels like it’s the size of a walnut,” Bones called back.

  All around, the brothers were laughing and slapping backs. Nearby, another pair were talking. “Thirty fucking years, can you believe it? I gotta tell ya, Spike, you look like hell.”

  Harry just chuckled and walked away. He could see where this was going. Thirty years was a long time, and it was sad to admit but there were more than a handful of Zeta Chi brothers, class of ’84, that he hadn’t seen in that entire time. He was looking forward to this reunion.

  “Well if it isn’t Dirty Harry. Last I heard you were still living in Jersey and back to running the family practice. You still playing that gig, or what?”

  “I am,” said Harry. “My dad left the practice a few years ago and we’ve really expanded since then. I should have gone out on my own years ago but I couldn’t see the forest for the trees.”

  “Ah, perspective I believe that’s called,” said brother Zen, short for Zen Master, short for Zen Master of Motorcycle Maintenance. It was a long story.

  “You’re right about that,” Harry agreed. “It’s something I’m trying to provide for my kids now that I’ve got the gray hair to pull it off.”

  “Speaking of kids, how’s your boy doing? I remember seeing him when he was still in diapers and you had already put a baseball glove in his crib.”

  “Well, he’s out of school and doing some work for me, but I don’t think going to law school and being a small town lawyer is his thing. He’s thinking about going after his CFA and seeing where that leads him.”

  “Another investment analyst,” said Zen Master. “Just what this country needs.”

  “I know,” said Harry, holding up a hand. “But he’s out there searching. Better he should figure it out now than get trapped into something and piss away twenty years doing the wrong thing. I learned that lesson the hard way.”

  “A lot of us went through that,” said Zen Master. “Things are different now.” He paused as his eyes shifted toward the entrance to the dumpy little neighborhood bar called Slick’s that the Zeta Chi brothers had virtually taken over. “Speaking of things being different, check this out.”

  Harry turned. “No way. Is that Ducky?”

  Zen Master chugged on his beer. “Look like he’s put on a few l-bs. And, oh, hello, who do you think she is?”

  Another brother they called Fish sidled up and whispered, “That’s the new squeeze. Number three, I think. She gives new meaning to the term trophy wife, don’t you think?”

  “I’ll say,” said Zen Master. “Looks like she’s got a couple of ‘em. I’m guessing she gets on top most of the time.”

  Harry said, “She’s definitely different from that UMass girl Ducky used to date back in the day. Remember her?”

  “Oh yeah,” Fish said wistfully. “Dirty Debbie. I think a few of the guys remember her.”

  They all snickered as Ducky made his way through the crowd. When they were within range Zen Master gave him a bear hug and called out obnoxiously, “Well look what the cat dragged in. Hello Ducky, nice of you to bring your daughter.”

  Ducky took it right in stride. It looked like he was used to them—or, more accurately her—being the center of attention. “Hello Zen. I see you still have your sense of humor. I guess those activities down at the home have kept the dementia in check. Guys, this is Monica. Monica, say hello to the perverts.”

  “Pleasure,” said Fish, shaking her hand and giving her an inadvertent once over.

  “I’m up here,” Monica quipped as she forced him to raise his eyes. “That’s it, you can do it.”

  Ducky chuckled and said, “What’s the matter, Fish? Something stuck in your throat?”

  “How about a drink?” Fish said quickly as his face turned pink.

  “I’ll buy,” said Ducky.

  “For real?” said Zen Master. “Are you really gonna pick up a tab?”

  “Go big or go home,” Ducky shot back mockingly. “But you’d understand if you paid as much alimony as I do.... What’s everyone drinking?”

  The drinks came and they all laughed and traded more verbal jabs until Harry called for quiet. “Okay guys, I think almost all of us are here. The college reunion dinner starts in half an hour and we’ve got a big charter van coming at five o’clock to take us to the dinner and wherever we want to go for the rest of the night, including our hotels. No need to worry about driving, okay? By my count, there are eighteen of us here in case we need to track someone down at the end of the night or something. Let’s have a great thirtieth reunion, guys—and ladies,” he added with a smile. “This is our opportunity to renew old friendships, and I hope you’re all looking forward to this as much as I am. We’ll be leaving in about fifteen minutes.”

  “Nineteen,” Ducky called out. “There’s nineteen of us here.”

  Harry said, “I counted three times, Ducky. Who am I missing?”

  “Hutch,” Ducky answered. “I saw him as we were coming in.”

  Harry looked around. “Is Hutch here?” No one answered and a questioning look hung on Harry’s face as he turned back toward Ducky. “Where—”

  “He’s up the street. We walked right past him as he was sitting in his car and talking on his cell phone. I’d recognize that hound dog face of his anywhere.”

  “Well let’s go get him,” Bones called out. “We can’t have this celebration without old Hutch. Harry, do you want to lead the way? He was your roommate, wasn’t he?”

  “You guys go ahead,” Harry replied. “I’ve got to make sure everything is squared up with the tab and check on our transportation. Tell the old dog face I’ll be out in a couple of minutes.”

  “Will do,” said Ducky as he put his beer down and turned to Monica. “Be right back, sweetheart, and stay away from the one at the end of the bar.”

  Bones and Ducky left, leaving Monica to make small talk with the boys. “So,” said Fish as Harry motioned for the bartender to come over so he could settle up, “how long have you and Ducky been married?”

  Smirking, “What makes you think we’re married?” Monica teased. “Personally, I’m just in it for the sex.”

  Fish almost coughed up his beer. “You mean....” Then, breaking into a huge grin, “Go on. Ducky told you to say that, right?”

  “Not at all,” Monica said as she flipped a handful of dark, glossy hair over her shoulder. “Both of us have already seen that movie. Why would we want to do that again? No, we’ve both agreed to let it go this way for as long as it lasts, no strings.” She paused, her eyes glinting. “He’s really quite good in bed.”

  Standing there with his mouth open, Fish finally said, “So, ah, do you... ah, how do I say this....”

  “Work?”

  “Yeah, that’s good. Do you work?”

  “Yeah, I work.”

  “Oh. So what kind of work.... I mean, what kind of profession are you.... I mean....”

  “What do you do?” Harry interjected, seeing Fish step all over his tongue.

  “I’m an assistant district attorney.”


  “Assistant district attorney,” Harry repeated.

  “Right, Assistant District Attorney for the Northwestern District of Hampshire and Franklin counties.”

  “Hampshire County.... Wait, that’s this county.”

  “That’s right,” said Monica, enjoying herself immensely. “So, are you boys having fun so far?” She suddenly reached into her purse as she heard her cell phone go off. The little sneer she was wearing faded quickly, and the fun she was having with Fish and Harry was suddenly over. “That was Ducky,” she said, stuffing the phone back into her purse.

  “Is something wrong?” Harry asked, seeing her change in demeanor.

  “I think so. He wants all of you to go outside right away. It’s about your friend Hutch.”

  Harry looked at Fish, who was staring back at him, then at the rest of the brothers strung out along the bar. “Hey guys,” he called out, “Ducky just called and asked us to come outside.”

  “I thought you said we were leaving in fifteen minutes,” one of the other brothers called back.

  “I have a feeling we’re gonna be delayed,” said Harry.