Early Sunday morning Swithin’s cell phone rang.  After checking the number, he flipped it open and answered.

“Hi Amy,” Swithin said, sounding rundown.

“I’m an easy going girl,” Amy immediately commented.  “Really I am.  But a week? You don’t call for a week?”

“I’m sorry, but…”

“But nothing,” Amy interjected playfully.  “Where do you live?”

Swithin paused for a moment. “Why?”

“‘Cuz I’m coming over and fucking some sense back into your head!”

Swithin sighed.  “I’m sorry, but I’m not up for playing this morning.  I wish I was, but I’m just not.”

“Don’t be mad, babe,” Amy said in a concerned voice. “I’m not mad, or anything—just missed you.”

“It’s not you.  I had a crazy week that was capped off by a fucked up Saturday.”  Swithin took a breath.  “Spent the good part of last night and this morning thinking about it.  I’m tired is all.”

“You sound depressed…  Are you?”

“Pretty much, yeah.”

“What are you doing later today?”

“Aside from moping around here, nothing.”

“Come to The Reunion with me.”

Swithin paused for a moment.  “Your class reunion’s today?”

“No silly… The Reunion.  It’s an outdoor dance party held every second Sunday.  It starts at two and ends at sunset.”

Swithin smiled a faint smile.  “Sounds kinda cool.  Why’s it called The Reunion?”

“There’s, like, eight or nine major dance communities in and around the city.  And, each pretty much hosts their own events and invites their own members.  Reunions bring all the dance communities together for one intentional event, in an effort to build cohesion and strengthen our greater sense of community.  They’re casual events, you wouldn’t have to dress up or anything—just wear layers.  It gets cold at the end of the day.”

“Mope or go?” Swithin murmured to himself. “Mope or go? Hrm…”

Swithin smiled.  “Okay, I’ll go!”

“Great!  Pick me up at my house at one.  Remember to dress in layers and bring a blanket along.  If you have one?”

“I do.”

“Good!  Skip lunch, we’ll pick up sandwiches on the way.  See you…”

“Hold on…” Swithin interjected.  “Where’s The Reunion at?”

“Webster Lake Park.”

“In Novato?”  

“You know the place?”

“When I was a kid I attended park programs there.  Painted with rocks, learned how to cord rope.  That sort of thing.”

“Cord rope, eh?”  Amy questioned seductively.  “I’ll have to make sure you get some time to practice that little talent on me at the park.”

Swithin smiled.  “Thanks.”

“For what, baby?”

“For being you.”

A couple of hours after their phone conversation ended, Swithin and Amy were driving across the Golden Gate Bridge on their way to Webster Lake and The Reunion.  On their way, they stopped off in Mill Valley and picked up some drinks, chips and sandwiches from a deli.  By the time they reached the park it was three o’clock. 

Webster Lake Park was a large triangular field of grass that arced around a lake.  At the base of the triangle, nearest to Swithin and Amy’s approach, was an impromptu dance area equipped with a diesel generator, lifted speakers, turntables and DJs spinning house music.  In the space just beyond the dance area hundreds of people were sitting, laying and standing between blankets edged together like a massive unstitched quilt.

“Amy?” a girl questioned aloud as Swithin and Amy arced around the dance area.  

“Sam!” Amy squealed. She handed Swithin the plastic bag she was holding, reached out and wrapped her arms around a blond girl in a sky-blue polar fleece jacket.  “Oh my god!  I can’t believe you’re here!”

After nearly knocking the girl over, Amy let her go. “Sorry about that,” she said, regaining her footing.

“No problem,” the girl replied as she adjusted herself.

Amy turned to Swithin.  “Sam, this is Saint Swithin.”

“Name’s Samantha,” the girl said with a smile, as she reached out and shook Swithin’s hand.  “Amy likes to call me Sam.” 

“No worries,” Swithin replied.  “I’ll be sure to call you Samantha.”

Samantha smiled.  “Thanks.”

“Sam and I went to school together back in San Luis Obispo,” Amy commented.

“College?” Swithin questioned.

“High school,” Samantha clarified.  “Amy was my best friend.” 

“Still is,” Amy added.  “Only, we hang in different circles now.”

Samantha lowered her eyes.  “Yeah.  Different circles.”

“How did you find out about The Reunion?” Amy asked Amy.

“My boyfriend.  He’s roommates with a guy who helping to put this on.”

“Where’s you boyfriend now?”

“He’s on a food run.  He’ll be back in a bit.”

“I have to meet him!”

“You will.” Samantha said, then pursed her lips and nodded.  “Are you still doing massage?”

“Yeah,” Amy replied.  “And, I have a steady flow of regulars now.  Not like the early days when I was only pulling in one a month.”

“Glad you stuck to it.”

“Yeah…  How about you?  Are you still teaching?”

“I am,” Samantha replied, looking distracted.

“Great!”

“It is.” Samantha commented as she glanced back over her shoulder.  “Say it was nice talking to you, but I need to get moving on.  I promised Jake I’d meet up with him in the parking lot.”

“So Jake’s your boyfriend’s name?”  Amy asked.

“Yeah,” Samantha replied.  “I wish I could keep talking, but I gotta’ go.  We’ll catch up later, okay?”

“Okay,” Amy replied.

“Nice meeting you, Saint Swithin.”

“You too, Samantha.”    

As Samantha walked off, Amy turned, reached out and gripped one of Swithin’s hands.  “If anything should ever happen to me.  Call Sam.”

Swithin’s smile flattened.  “Why would you say that?”

“It’s not a big deal.  She’s just the most reliable person I know, and I trust her.”

Swithin took a breath.  “Got it.”

Swithin and Amy walked past the dance area and wove their way through the mosaic of blankets and masses of people until they found a comfortable spot for themselves on the outskirts of the grass—near a paved trail that appeared to circle the lake.  They spread Swithin’s blanket out and sat down on top. 

Swithin pulled out his sandwich. 

Amy locked onto someone in the crowd. “Allen!” she called out.  “Over here!”

Swithin looked off in the direction Amy called and saw a skinny, pale guy wearing black-framed glasses and what looked like dreadlock extensions in his hair.

“Allen’s cool,” Amy turned and commented to Swithin.  “He’s from the Groove Nation.  I told him we’d be coming.”

“Cool,” Swithin said through a mouthful of sandwich.

Allen arrived at the blanket and sat down in front of Amy.  He didn’t acknowledge or look at Swithin.  “So, Amy…” Allen started to say then trailed off.

“Yeah?” Amy questioned.

“Are you going to Burning Man this year?”

Amy glanced at Swithin and smiled. “I’m not sure yet.  Are you going?”

Sitting down and crossing his legs, Allen maintained eye contact with Amy.  “Like you,” he said in a monotone voice, “I’m not solid as to whether or not I’m going.  But things are starting lean toward yes.” He paused for a moment. “Still, I’m not sure this year will live up to last year, so I may not go.  Then again, this year might be better than last year.  I won’t know until I go.  But I’m not sure if I want to.”

Amy smiled awkwardly.  “I’m not quite following you.”

“It doesn’t mater,” Allen commented, his eyes still fixed on Amy’s.

Swithin leaned in toward Amy’s ear and whispered.  “Is he kidding?”

Amy leaned away and smiled at Swithin.  “No.  This is Allen.”

“How long are you going to be here?”  Allen suddenly asked.

“At The Reunion?” Amy questioned.

“On this blanket,” Allen clarified.

Amy shrugged her shoulders.  “I don’t know.”

Allen stood up.  “I’m headed back to the dance area.  I’ll check back here for you in a little while.  If you’re here we’ll talk more.”

“Okay,” Amy replied.

Allen waved goodbye to Amy and walked away.

“He didn’t look at or acknowledge me once,” Swithin commented. 

“Allen’s a trip,” Amy replied. “But he’s a friend and good person too.”

Swithin wrapped up what was left of his sandwich, and set it back into his plastic bag.  He laid down on his back, and rested his head on Amy’s lap.  “What’s Burning Man?”

Amy looked down and smiled.  “You’re kidding?”

“I know it’s held in the desert and that it lasts for a week, but I never got a handle on what it’s all about.”

“Burning Man’s a lot of things, but essentially it’s an opportunity to dress up, trip out and let your hair down among friends and likeminded people.  At least it was for me.”

“So you’ve been…”

“Last year was my first time.”

“Did you have a good time?”

Amy smiled.  “I had an amazing time.”

“Then why aren’t you sure if you’re going this year?”

Amy looked away.  “I met someone last year.  Someone I recently fell out with, and would rather not see for a while.”

“And, this someone’s going to Burning Man?”

“Yeah, and he’s a member of The Collective.  So he’d be hard to avoid.”

“I see…”

“It’s bad enough I’m working a massage table at the fundraiser,” Amy continued. “As stupid as it is.  I mean who schedules a Burning Man fundraiser a week before the burn.”  Amy rolled her eyes.  “Except Johnson, of course.”

“The party on the 21st is a fundraiser?”

“For The Collective’s Burning Man camp, yeah.”

“A Camp?  How much does it cost for a bunch of people to line up tents in the desert?

”The Collective’s camp is more than a bunch of tents lined up.  They’re building a dome, setting up a sound system, decorating and lighting the dome and feeding over a hundred people, for a week.”  

“That’s some camp!”

“Other camps are even bigger.”

“How many people attended the burn last year?”

“In total?”

“Yeah.”

“About 15,000.”

“15,000 people attended a party in the desert?”

“It’s more than just a party.  It’s a spontaneous community, filled with interactive art, performances, dance, music…” Amy trailed off.  “I could go on, but truthfully, the only way to know what the burn’s about is to go.”

“15,000 people,” Swithin repeated under his breath.

“This year they’re expecting over 20,000,” Amy added.

“Jesus!” Swithin exclaimed.

“The burn’s big,” Amy commented.  “Especially in the Bay Area.”

“I guess so.”

Swithin glanced up for a moment and saw Paul walking up.  He had a smile on his face.

“Amy, Saint Swithin,” Paul said with a nod as he sat down.  He hugged Amy and shook Swithin’s hand.

Swithin sat up.  “Are you ready for your trip” He asked Paul.

“That’s the only reason I’m here,” Paul replied.  “As of this morning, my local life is officially in storage.  For what remains of the week I plan do a whole lot of nothing. Then I’m off to Thailand!”

“When’s your last day here?”  Swithin questioned.

“Friday,” Paul replied.  He tapped Amy shoulder.  “We’re still on for Wednesday night?”

“Of course,” Amy replied in a distracted voice, as she looked off into the crowd of people in front of her.  “I’m looking forward to it.”  She turned and looked a Swithin.  “Baby…”

“Yeah?”

“Could you spare a twenty?”

“Sure, why?”

“She wants E,” Paul said.

“Shut up Paul!” Amy snapped back playfully.

Swithin glanced at Paul and shook his head.  “What’s the money for?” He asked Amy again.

Amy paused.  “E.”

Paul laughed.  “I told you.”

Amy smacked Paul’s head with an open hand.  “You should talk!”

“I’m just fucking with you,” Paul replied dismissively, as he lifted his arms to defend himself.

“Yeah? Well stop it!”

Swithin pulled out his wallet and gave Amy forty dollars.  “Get one for Paul too,” he said as he looked at Paul.  “If you’re up for one, that is?” 

“If you’re paying, I’m up for it.”

“How about you honey?  Do you want one?” Amy asked Swithin. 

“I’m fine.  Don’t worry about me.”

Amy leaned in toward Swithin, kissed him and smiled.  “Alright then…  I’ll be right back.”

After Amy left, Paul looked at Swithin and smiled.  “I like you, Saint Swithin.”

Swithin smiled.  “I like you, too.” 

“Good.” Paul leaned in toward Swithin.  “Don’t take this the wrong way. But, a little bird told me you’re dealing with Gifford.”

Swithin took a breath. “That so?”

Paul sat back.  “It’s totally your business who you deal with.  Still I think you should know, Gifford’s a head case.  So watch yourself.”

Swithin wiped a hand over his mouth. “Is there a reason why you’re telling me this?”

“Like I said,” Paul replied matter-of-factly, as he leaned back onto his elbows, “I like you.”

Swithin turned, looked up and saw a girl approaching.  She was wearing costume-quality butterfly wings.

“Paul?” the girl questioned.

Paul sat up. “Need something?”

“Claire told me I could talk to you about lavender bears?”

Paul glanced at Swithin.  “Let’s go for a walk.”

“Okay,” the girl replied.

As Paul stood up he turned to Swithin.  “Say, if I don’t see you again before Friday.  Take care.”

“You too,” Swithin replied with a smile.

Paul and the girl walked off together.

Swithin whispered to himself.  “Okay…  That was weird.”

Left alone on the blanket, Swithin sat watching the crowd around him for a while, before ultimately deciding to lay back and take a nap.  Some time later, he was shaken awake.  He opened his eyes and saw Allen.

“Amy told me to go get you,” Allen said.

Swithin sat up and rubbed his eyes with his knuckles.  “Where is she?”

“She’s standing by your car.  She told me to go get you, and tell you she wants to leave.”

Swithin looked down at his wristwatch—it was 5:15 pm.  He stood up, gathered the blanket and the bags of food and drinks and started walking toward the car.

“She’s rolling a bit hard,” Allen said as he followed along beside Swithin.

Swithin took a breath.  “Is someone with her?”

“A guy named Gary and a guy named Marcus.  I don’t know them, but they seem like nice enough people.  Gary looks a bit sleepy.  Then again, I’m tired too.  So, I suppose I also look sleepy.”

Swithin looked at Allen.  “By the way, my name’s Saint Swithin.”

Allen smiled.  “Amy told me.”

When Swithin arrived to the parking lot Gary was sitting on the ground, hunched over and leaning against the right front tire of the Porsche.  Marcus was standing nearby with Amy, holding a jacket around her shoulders.

“Hi Baby,” Amy said to Swithin through clenched teeth as he walked up.  “Take me home.”

“Where going home,” Swithin replied.  “How long has she been like this?” He asked Marcus.

“I don’t know,” Marcus replied.  “Gary and I just drove up.  We saw her standing by your car looking upset.  So we walked up and checked on her.  Then this guy walked up,” Marcus gestured toward Allen, and she told him to get you.”

Swithin unlocked the passenger door of his car and gently helped Amy inside.  “Is this your jacket?” He asked Marcus as he held it out.

“It is,” Marcus replied as he took hold of it.  “Thanks.”

Swithin placed the bags of food and drinks between Amy’s feet and draped his blanket over her. He carefully shut her door and looked down at Gary.  “Is he okay?”

“Too much G,” Marcus commented.

Swithin shook his head. “Could you pull him away from my tire?”

“Sure,” Marcus replied, then clumsily brought Gary to his feet.

“Can you get me to the grass?” Gary asked Marcus as he stood shakily beside him.

“We will,” Marcus replied to Gary.  He called out to Swithin.  “Do you need anything more from me?”

Swithin opened the driver’s side door.  “I’ll take it from here.  Thanks.”  He looked at Allen.  “Thanks for coming to get me.”

“My pleasure.” Allen replied.

On the road back from Webster Lake, Amy’s teeth started to chatter.  “Could we put the heater on, baby?”

“Of course,” Swithin replied as switched on the heat.  “How’re you feeling?”

“I’m okay, just cold.”  Amy closed her eyes, reached out her arms and stretched.  “I knew I shouldn’t have taken two at once.”

Swithin glanced at Amy.  “I thought Paul was getting one.”

“I couldn’t find him so I took it myself.”

“Have you ever taken two at once before?”

Amy smiled halfheartedly.  “There’s a first time for everything.”

Swithin sighed.  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine.  I just need to get home and crawl into bed.  Would you crawl into bed with me?”

“Are you kidding? Yes.”

“And hold me?” Amy added.

Swithin smiled.  “And, hold you.”

Amy looked down at the bags between her feet.  “You know what Saint Swithin?”

“What’s that?”

“I’m falling for you...”

“Are you now?” Swithin replied coyly.

“Yeah,” Amy confirmed.

Swithin reached out and gripped Amy’s left hand.  “Well, I’m falling for you too.”

Chapter 26: Megan's Angle >>