You’re home for the holidays! Though your parents would cut off a limb to spend any amount of quality time with you, the first thing you do with that precious time is head to the local dive bar where your old crew is looking to get wrecked like the old days in much too-snug Christmas sweaters. It’s a real who’s who of the Southeast Indiana class of ‘11. But there’s one person on your mind. One person who still makes your right eye twitch. The thought of their face sends a bubbling rage up from your gut. Lance Nash.
Lance. Your nemesis. Your only worthy adversary. Your true equal. You think of the hours of sleep you lost in high school because of this man. You ran in the same circles, went for the same girls, took all the same honors classes, and competed for principal tubist in the school band. You couldn’t get away from each other! And there he was, after all these years, clinking glasses and laughing with your friends, your buddies, at the bar in his stupid cable-knit sweater.
“Sorry, who are we talking about?” Lance inquired when asked about you.
You decide to help jog his memory and approach him at the bar, making sure he hears you order a scotch on the rocks before delivering a tepid, “Lance Nash. Long time no see.” “Hey, good to see ya,” Lance offers. You look him dead in the eye, seeing he’s coming up blank. “Jethro Brink? I was, like, your rival back in high school band.” Lance looks confused at first. “Oh yeah! My rival! (“angry”) You!” He playfully nudges you.
Aubrey, a former clarinet player, also at the bar shares that Nash was the best tubist she’s ever encountered. “His breathwork, finger dexterity, the firm rhythmic foundation he gave the band – he was a singular talent. No one came close. All the girls were obsessed with him, but he was complicated, you know? There was a mystery about him… a rich inner life.” When asked about Jethro she squinted at him across the room, “Oh yeah, the twitchy guy. Huh.”
The former band director, Mr. Burns, also asked for comment, said he hasn’t seen lungs like that on a kid since Nash. He notes he was at a bad place in his life at that time and Nash breathed new life into him as band teacher, reminding him why he does what he does and what life is all about. On the subject of Jethro he added, “Lotta names over the years, some don’t stick.”
You swirl your drink and try to unclench your jaw. You know Lance is loving this moment. Living for it. Seeing you squirm is what drives him. Stop twitching, stop it!