FEBRUARY 27, 1981
Lunchlines
Girl Brings Brother Home In Less Than One Piece
My brother Mike is one of the nicest people around. He is not trustworthy, however, when it comes to choosing entertainment.
Last Friday night Mike came bounding into the dining room as I was clearing away the breakfast dishes.
"Sandy, you've got to come with me."
"Why?"
"There's this great 60's party over at the Apartments. It's going to be a gas."
"So? Why aren't you taking Meg?" (Meg is his girlfriend.)
"She's out of town visiting relatives."
"And you need a date, right?"
"It would be handy."
I agreed because I didn't want to spend the evening listening to my sister practicing her violin. I thought even a college party would be more entertaining.
The party was in full force when we arrived. Mike introduced me to a corner and said he would return. The other guests gathered around the dance floor talking and drinking. The disc jockey was hard pressed to convince the people to dance.
I noticed a girl walk by me in a green jumpsuit, sunglasses, and blue hair. Spying a guy with a safety pin in each ear, I began to realize that the place was being invaded by people parodying punks. A burst of feedback burst forth from the speakers;
The leader took out a black satchel and pulled out some singles. He placed one on the turntable. Suddenly everyone invaded the dance floor, bopping to "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da." A figure looking like a member of Devo appeared in front of me. Mumbling something about pogoing, he dragged me onto the floor. I don't object to New Wave, so I was finally enjoying myself. In the middle of the third number Mike pulled me into a corner.
"We've got to stop this."
"Why?"
"It's...it's ...unnatural! We've got to return this party to normalicy!"
"Why? I know you don't like New Wave, but surely you can allow other people to have their fun."
"Please help, Sandy."
"Give me one good reason."
"Do you want to get home by some other method than walking?"
To make a long story short, Mike left me to fight off delirious punksters while he untied the disc jockey. The New Wave fans then sort of ran us out. I spent the next three hours in emergency waiting for them to fix Mike's broken arm. Maybe a violin recital would have been safer.
(Next: Spring Fever.)