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    Gimme Five Minutes ...
    Gimme Five Minutes ...
    Gimme Five Minutes ...
    Ebook168 pages2 hours

    Gimme Five Minutes ...

    By G. R. Lamm

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    About this ebook

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    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAuthorHouse
    Release dateFeb 17, 2012
    ISBN9781468541700
    Gimme Five Minutes ...
    Author

    G. R. Lamm

    No Biography

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      Book preview

      Gimme Five Minutes ... - G. R. Lamm

      Gimme Five Minutes …

      G. R. Lamm

      US%26UK%20Logo%20B%26W_new.ai

      AuthorHouse™

      1663 Liberty Drive

      Bloomington, IN 47403

      www.authorhouse.com

      Phone: 1-800-839-8640

      © 2012 G. R. Lamm. All rights reserved.

      Cover art by Doug Nelson and Nelson Designs.

      No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

      Published by AuthorHouse 2/14/2012

      ISBN: 978-1-4685-4171-7 (sc)

      ISBN: 978-1-4685-4170-0 (e)

      Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

      and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

      Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

      This book is printed on acid-free paper.

      Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

      Contents

      Dedication

      Acknowledgments

      CHAPTER 1

      CHAPTER 2

      CHAPTER 3

      CHAPTER 4

      CHAPTER 5

      CHAPTER 6

      CHAPTER 7

      CHAPTER 8

      CHAPTER 9

      CHAPTER 10

      CHAPTER 11

      CHAPTER 12

      CHAPTER 13

      CHAPTER 14

      CHAPTER 15

      CHAPTER 16

      CHAPTER 17

      Dedication

      This book is dedicated to Virginia Lamm—mother, inspiration, fan, and friend. You’ll be missed more than you’ll ever know.

      Acknowledgments

      June, Nick, and Zack—without your encouragement and support Gimme Five Minutes … would never have been written.

      And a special thanks to Ilah Nelson for helping me with the first round of editing and for the spelling lessons.

      CHAPTER 1

      It’s Just a Beach Party …

      The night began like most Friday nights. Nate, my sixteen-year-old son, meticulously combed his hair in the mirror as his twelve-year-old brother, Casey, looked on in envy.

      So, where are you going tonight? asked Casey in his squeaky voice.

      Nate just looked at him in the reflection and continued to comb his hair.

      Whatever, muttered Casey, as he turned and walked out of the bathroom.

      Nate smiled with the satisfaction that he had pissed off his little brother with such ease. Nate ran another handful of gel through his hair and combed it one last time. He paused as he surveyed himself and smiled as he thought about the night that lay before him.

      Nate and his best friend, Jacob, were meeting some girls from school at a beach party. Nate glanced at his watch. Jacob was due to pick him up in an hour.

      Are you going to be in there all night?

      Nate turned to give his little brother a look of annoyance as he slowly sauntered out of the bathroom, bouncing Casey against the wall on his way out.

      Nate walked to his room, sat on his bed, and stared at the wall. This was his first beach party, and he was looking forward to it with excitement and trepidation. He had heard stories of the beach parties and how wild they could get. At first he thought his mother and I wouldn’t let him go, but, to his surprise, we reluctantly agreed. Besides, it was summertime, and school was out.

      Nate got up from his bed and headed downstairs to get something to eat before Jacob arrived. As he came downstairs he noticed me sitting in the living room. I guess I looked really anxious as I flipped aimlessly through some random magazine.

      Hey, Dad, said Nate, as he reached the bottom of the stairs.

      Hi, Nate, I replied as he continued into the kitchen.

      Nate looked back at me, stopping as he reached the kitchen door. Are you okay, Dad?

      Umm … yeah, I said with some hesitation.

      Okay, he said as he continued into the kitchen. After fixing a sandwich he started back through the living room toward the stairs.

      Nate, I started, I know your mom and I agreed to let you to go to this party tonight, but—

      But what? whined Nate. You’re not going to change your minds, are you? Jacob is supposed to be here soon, and you already said I could go.

      I put my hand up to silence him. No, I’m not going to tell you that you can’t go. But—

      But what? he interrupted.

      I want to talk to you, I said, in a serious, fatherly tone.

      But Jacob’s going to be here soon.

      Gimme five minutes … I said.

      Nate stood there with his mouth open, not saying a word as the two of us stared at each other before I instructed him to sit down.

      Nate walked over to the couch opposite my chair and sat down.

      I want to tell you a story … a story about someone I used to know. You’re sixteen now, and you’re … well, there’s gonna be a lot of choices you’re gonna have to make. I paused as I looked at Nate. And some of the choices, well … they won’t always be the right ones.

      What are you talking about? asked Nate with a confused look on his face.

      I just stared at him. There was something I wanted to tell him, but I was having a hard time putting it into words. I think Nate sensed my angst.

      Dad, you’ve already talked to me about sex, so …

      I laughed briefly, interrupting Nate. That’s not it, son, I said as my demeanor turned a bit more serious. There’s something I’ve never told you that I think you need to hear, I said, looking down at the floor.

      What?

      I looked up at him. I want to tell you about something that happened a long time ago. You may think it’s stupid, or that it’ll never happen to you, but I would never forgive myself if I didn’t tell you.

      What are you talking about, Dad?

      A long time ago, when I was about your age, there was a group of us in high school that hung out together. And it was right after my seventeenth birthday when … I started into a story that took us back to the 1980s. A time that was weird, wonderful, and tragic.

      ***

      It was in a balmy night in the summer of 1980. School was out; Jake had just gotten his first car, and he and his best friend, Dan, were racing over to the coast to join some friends at a beach party. It was their first.

      As they raced up the winding highway, Dan cracked open a beer and strategically placed it between Jake’s legs as he concentrated on keeping the car on the road. As they hit a short straightaway, Jake reached down between his legs and grabbed the beer, taking a quick swig before jamming it back into his crotch as he braked into the next turn.

      They raced over the winding highway, making it to the coast in less than half the time it would normally take. But between the music, the beer, and wanting to join their friends at the party, Jake drove as fast and crazy as only a drunk seventeen-year-old would. As they turned onto the coastal highway, they had the windows down and were singing Boston’s Smokin’ at the top of their lungs as Dan played an air keyboard.

      Jake looked out at the beach that bordered the highway. The moon reflected off the water like a thousand glistening dots of light as the waves crashed against the sandy beach. The radio started playing All Day Music.

      Oh … oh, I love this song, said Dan turning up the volume. Jake smiled and turned to him. Dan had his head back with his eyes closed, his long brown hair blowing in the wind.

      Dan and Jake grew up together and have been best friends since elementary school. People often thought they were brothers. They were both about six feet tall and had the same long brown hair.

      Gimme another beer, said Jake, interrupting Dan’s serenity.

      Dan opened his eyes and turned his head to him with a smile. He reached down in front of him, opened another beer, and handed it to Jake.

      Thanks, said Jake, as he turned back to the glistening ocean. The moonlight was twinkling off the surf in a way he had never noticed before.

      We’re almost there, Jake, said Dan.

      He took a quick swig of his beer and turned his attention back to the road.

      Right here, said Dan as Jake hit the brakes and pulled into the parking lot.

      "I hope everyone’s not too drunk yet," said Dan as he surveyed the parking lot, looking for familiar cars.

      Well, we are kinda late, said Jake, as he parked and turned off the car.

      I think they said they were going to be over there, said Dan pointing to the right as they got out of the car.

      You got the beer?

      Dan looked at Jake as he hoisted the remaining six-pack. Jake smiled as the two set off across the parking lot.

      At the edge of the parking lot a path led through a couple of dunes and opened up onto a beach that seemed to stretch endlessly in both directions.

      Campfires dotted the beach, punctuating the locations of the parties. There were people everywhere, throwing glow-in-the-dark Frisbees, tossing footballs, and playing in the surf.

      A couple of girls walked by them as they stood there staring up and down the beach. The two watched as the girls turned back and smiled. Dan and Jake looked at each other and smiled.

      Man, this is so cool, said Dan.

      So, where did they say they were going to be? asked Jake as he looked up and down the beach.

      Over there, I think, pointed Dan.

      Well, let’s go.

      They headed down the beach as the smell of barbeques, campfires, and marijuana filled the air. Dan and Jake passed several fires in search of their friends when they came across a group of girls.

      Dan and Jake looked at each other.

      I think I’m really going to enjoy this.

      You and me both, replied Jake.

      Hi, guys, said the girls as they approached.

      You guys want to party? asked one of the girls.

      Sure, said Jake without hesitation.

      Here, one of the girls said, handing him a cigarette.

      Jake started to take it when he realized it wasn’t a cigarette—it was a joint. He stopped just short of grabbing it when another girl said, C’mon, man, you’ll like it.

      No, thanks, he said.

      How about you? the girl asked as she turned to Dan.

      Uh … no, thanks.

      Ah, c’mon, insisted the girl, a little pot isn’t gonna hurt you.

      Dan looked over at Jake. Sure, he said hesitantly as he turned back to the girl. He took the joint and awkwardly put it to his lips and started to draw in the smoke. He stopped abruptly and pulled the joint from his lips as he started violently coughing. The girls started laughing as one gently took the joint from his hand. Dan continued to cough as the girl turned to Jake.

      You sure you don’t want to try some?

      No, that’s all right, said Jake as he watched Dan continue to cough.

      Okay, the girl said as she took another hit off the joint and passed it on to her friends. We’ll see you guys around, she said as they started walking down the beach.

      Okay, see ya, Jake said.

      He watched the girls slowly stagger down the beach as Dan finally stopped coughing.

      Man, he said, coughing briefly, that’s nasty shit.

      Jake smiled and patted him on the back. That’s why I never touch that stuff.

      As they watched the girls wander down the beach, they heard a familiar voice behind them …

      ***

      Okay … wait a minute Dad, said Nate, interrupting my story. I don’t get it. He went to the party. Okay, he drank while he was driving, which you know I would never do, and he turned down the marijuana when it was offered to him …

      Wait a minute, Nate, let me continue, I said.

      CHAPTER 2

      Let the Parties Begin …

      It was the middle of summer when things started to get really weird. It seemed like every night there was a party, whether it was at the beach or in the mountains or at someone’s house … it really didn’t matter. They were just having fun, like most seventeen-year-olds would.

      Dan and Jake were on their way to a party at Bryan’s house. Bryan was a friend of theirs who lived in the nicer part of town.

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