by Ana Weidenfeld

 

A few weeks ago I asked my parents if I could attend a rock concert.

            “Can I go to a rock concert?”

            “No.”

            “Please?”

            “Is it going to be loud?”

            “No.”

            I had them right where I wanted them until my little brother chimed in.

            “The Guinness Book of World Records says that they’re the loudest band in the world. Peoples’ ears actually bleed.”

            I kicked him under the table for that one.

            “Mom, that’s so not true. They’re really catchy.”

            “Well let me listen to a few records and I’ll let you know if I think they’re appropriate. And don’t think I won’t listen to it backwards.”

The concert was still a while away so I wasn’t sweating it.

 

After school on a Thursday a friend and me were going for a ride in her car when we heard a thud. My first instinct was to get out; Kelly’s first instinct was to drive faster.

“What the hell was that?” she said.

“I think we hit something. Pull over.”

“It was just my crappy car,” she said.

“I think it was a squirrel. Go back.”

I felt her press slightly harder on the gas pedal.

“The world will survive with one less squirrel. Trust me,” Kelly said.

And with that we turned the corner.

 

The next day at school I was putting my math book in my locker when I saw my friend crying. I ran over to her.

“What’s wrong?” I said.

“My dog’s dead.”

“What? What happened?”

“Some maniac hit him with their car yesterday. They didn’t even stop.”

With the utterance of those words I immediately felt all of the color leave my face.

“I mean what sort of dirt bag would do something like that,” she continued.

I left Megan crying at her locker and ran to find Kelly.

 

“We killed Megan’s dog last night Kelly,” I blurted out.

“What?”

“We have to tell her that we did it.”

“No we don’t,” said Kelly. “It will only hurt her more.”

 

At lunch Kelly and I sat with the gang.

 “We killed Megan’s dog guys,” said Kelly, head bowed.

“Like with your bare hands?” said Ben.

“Of course not. We didn’t do it on purpose.”

“Well I wouldn’t worry. Dogs don’t even like humans. They just kiss our asses so we’ll feed them. I’m not buying that hoodwink,” responded Ben.

 

In English class Kelly sat down next to Megan.

“What’s wrong kid?”

“My dog died last night.”

“That’s awful. I’ve lost a dog too.”

“Really? What happened?”

“Well Bobo was narcoleptic. No matter how hard he tried to stay awake he couldn’t.  His narcolepsy was triggered by excitement so I would be walking him and he would just fall asleep while we were walking. And when he would try to jump up onto the couch with me he would wag his tail and pass out on the floor. Eating was the hardest. We had to constantly pet him while he ate. “

“I’m having a funeral for Jack after school. Do you want to go?”

Kelly nodded.

 

In science we watched a movie about fainting goats. It was about this brand of goat and when they get scared their muscles tighten so they fall over. The scene was a big guy in overalls running after these goats with an umbrella and when he opened the umbrella all of the goats would fall over onto their sides. Their legs would point straight up into the air and a few seconds later they would get up.

 

After school I met up with Kelly and Megan for Jack’s funeral.

“Do you want to say a few words?” Megan said to me.

I’m pretty awful of thinking on my toes but I had to for Megan.

“Jack was a good dog,” I began. “I remember when my mom used to wear her furry boots and Jack would hump her foot and then he got spayed and he didn’t do that anymore.”

 

The next day at school I was at my locker when Kelly and Megan approached me. This struck me as odd because Kelly and Megan roll on different sides of the track. Kelly experimented with boys and drugs and Megan was the captain of the chess club. I used to be captain of the club in tenth grade until I decided it wasn’t where I was at anymore.

“Hey guys,” I said.

“Hey,” said Megan. “Kelly and me are going to the record store after school so I can sing along at the rock concert.”

“What? You’re going to the concert Megan? What about your mom? She’s so strict.”

“My mom’s basically letting me do anything I want since Jack died.”

My head was spinning. My old world with Megan and my new world with Kelly were suddenly combining. I pulled Megan aside.

“Are you sure you want to go to the concert,” I said.

“You know when you quit the chess club and started hanging out with Kelly I felt really bad for you because I thought you were going to turn into a dirt bag but now I see that you were just exploring.”

I was speechless.

 

The concert was fast approaching and I was ready to ask my parents again if I could go.

“Can I please go to the concert?”

“No. I listened to the lyrics. They’re filthy.”

“Dad. Megan’s going,” I pleaded.

“Really? Little Megan?”

“Yeah,” I said excitedly.

“Well I guess if Megan’s going it would be alright as long as you stick together.”

“Thanks dad.”

Then my brother walked in and before he could say anything about peoples’ heads exploding from the speakers I pushed him down the hall and into his room.

 

It was the day of the concert and I met up with the gang. They were gathered around a bus grilling burgers.

“Have you seen Megan,” I asked one of the guys.

“Yeah she’s over there playing Frisbee. What a fox. I like it when the good girls cross over.”

“Shut up,” I said.

“Gee sorry,” he said. “I didn’t realize you were her mom.”

I looked over at Megan. She was wearing ripped jeans, a black shirt and a jean jacket. Seeing her in something besides a yellow cat sweater was dumbfounding.

“Hey does anyone want a beer?” yelled Ben.

“I’ll take one,” said Megan.

“But you don’t drink Megan,” I stammered.

“Seems like a good time to start. Bottoms up,” she said.

As I watched her raise the bottle to her lips I saw her whole life pass before my eyes. I couldn’t let her become something that she wasn’t. Megan loved church and school and chess and I liked that about her.

“Me and Kelly hit your dog,” I blurted out.

“What? Why didn’t you say something?” said Megan, lowering the bottle.

“We didn’t know how,” said Kelly.

Megan took one look at us and bolted. I ran after her.

 

I ended up skipping the concert and going to Megan’s house.

“I’m glad we didn’t go,” I said.

“Yeah I heard it’s not safe to use the bathrooms.”

“Wow. Can you imagine holding it for four hours?” 

We both laughed.