Jack woke up knowing exactly what day it was; his friend Johnny's birthday. Jack looked forward to this day every year because Johnny threw great parties at his house with plentiful food, drinks, and friends.
This year's party would be slightly different though. Johnny mentioned that a couple of his friends from UC-Santa Barbara, where he dormed and just recently graduated from, were going to make the two-hour drive and come over to Johnny's house for the first time.
Jack showed up at Johnny's house around noon, well before anyone else was supposed to arrive, as was customary for him so he could help Johnny set up.
Jack cleaned up well for this occasion, as he wanted to make a good first impression on Johnny's college buddies. Jack's light brown hair was coifed well, he had on a freshly-ironed blue collared shirt with his best slacks and shoes.
"Thanks for showing up Jack," said Johnny as they shook hands.
"Not at all," said Jack, "just tell me what's on the agenda today."
"We're playing 'King Henry's War'," said Johnny as he took out the game box and placed it on the table in the living room.
"Ugh!" cried Jack in disgust, "You know I hate that game!"
"Well, my friends from UCSB are really into this game and I thought it would be a good idea," Johnny replied.
Jack hated 'King Henry's War', which was a board game based on the War of the Roses. It was nearly impossible to win if you were stuck being part of the House of York (which was the losing side in real life), so he found it pointless.
"Well I won't make a scene because it's your birthday AND because there'll be new people here," said Jack, "but do me a favor and lower the heat in this house, it feels like an oven."
"No can do," Johnny replied, "the thermostat has been broken for the last two days and is stuck on 82 degrees."
"Shit. Just be thankful it didn't happen during the summer," said Jack.
Just as Jack finished his thought the doorbell rang.
"That should be Kitty," Johnny said as he ran to answer the door.
'Kitty? What kind of a name is that?' Jack thought to himself.
After answering the door Johnny walked back into the living room where Jack sat, and Kitty followed right behind.
Jack looked Kitty over a couple of times and he liked what he saw. This petite-framed, fair-skinned 5' beauty had dark brown hair that was straight and shoulder-length. She was wearing a pair of glasses that seemed too big for her face (in an endearing way), which went over her pretty hazel eyes. Kitty had on a long sleeve plaid-patterned red shirt with black yoga pants.
"Jack, meet Kitty, we had a couple of classes together at UCSB," Johnny said as Jack politely shook Kitty's dainty hand.
"Hi," said Kitty in a light and airy voice.
"Nice to meet you," Jack replied.
Just then the house phone rang.
"I wonder who that could be," mumbled Johnny as he left the room to answer it.
"So tell me about yourself Jack," said Kitty, "what makes you tick?"
Jack tried to keep his cool and formulate and answer when Johnny burst back into the room in hysterics.
"That was my grandma, she fell and broke her hip, I have to go with her to the hospital!" he said frantically.
"Oh my God that's terrible," Jack said.
"Just stay here and watch the house for now, I'll be back as soon as I can," Johnny said, "in the meantime find out where everyone else is and start setting up the game."
"Ok Johnny we'll keep our fingers crossed," said Kitty.
Johnny grabbed his car keys and rushed out the door.
Kitty proceeded to make a couple of phone calls to the other invitees.
"They're all running late, stuck in traffic on the freeway," Kitty relayed to Jack.
Kitty then wiped beads of sweat off her forehead.
"Shit, it's hot in this house. Mind if I take off my top?" Kitty asked.
