There were no guests still at the Madison's house when Sam and Joycie returned around midnight.
As they walked up the sidewalk, Joycie said, "Please come in. My grandparents are probably drunk. They won't care."
"No way, baby," Sam said, as he stuck his near empty pint of vodka in his back pocket. "Let's go to the garage apartment."
Trembling both in eager anticipation of private time with Sam, and fear of being caught, Joycie agreed.
As they proceeded toward the garage, Clara, garbage bag in tow, stepped outside the back door
"You're just in time help clean up, kids!" Clara said.
"Maybe you better go home after all," Joycie said to Sam. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"I wanna stay, baby doll," Sam said. "Let's go upstairs!"
Sam boldly proceeded toward the unlocked apartment and went inside.
"Can he drive home?" Clara asked.
"Don't worry, Grandma," Joycie replied. "Let me help you, then I'll check on him."
"I hardly think it's appropriate that you go up there alone with him at this hour!"
"Appropriate?" Joycie snapped. "What's been going on here all night?"
"Young lady, I don't want your grandad upset!" Clara replied, as she saw John headed in their direction. "Go on up there, but come down as soon as you can!"
Joycie rushed up to the apartment. As she and Sam were getting comfortable on the sofa, John's footsteps could be heard headed in their direction. Without knocking, John swung the door open.
"How was the party?" Sam, in a low, drunken voice, asked.
John said nothing.
"Well," Sam said, louder, "How was it?"
"What the hell's wrong with you?" John asked.
"Sam was just asking about your party!" Joycie replied.
"Well, I think it's time he goes home!" John said.
As Sam tried to rise to his feet, he fell back on the sofa. Instead of trying to get up again, he reached into his back pocket for the bottle.
"No!" Joycie whispered. "Put it back!"
Suddenly, John, moving closer to Sam, asked, "What are you trying to hide from me?"
"Nothing," Sam replied, pushing the bottle back into his pocket.
"What difference does it make?" a suddenly angry Joycie asked. "Show him, Sam!"
"Want the rest?" Sam laughed, retrieving the bottle.
"I should have known!" John said. "You're drunk, you young slob!"
"We've both been drinking!" Joycie said. "Don't get so upset!"
"Why?" John asked. "Why have you been drinking?"
"Why?" Joycie replied. "What do you mean--why? What the hell do you think has been going on here all night? It looks like you've been serving liquor as if it's going out of style! How many empty glasses are down there?"
"I don't care what's been going on here!" John angrily replied. "I certainly don't approve of my granddaughter drinking behind my back! We don't see much of you, what with your mother living in Florida, but your late dad was our only son. We'll never know if the accident that killed him was alcohol related or not. He was driving along Highway 61 and his accelerator got stuck and you know what happened next!"
"I was just a baby then," Joycie replied. "I'm sorry if we've hurt you, but I'm college age now, and my mom doesn't have a problem with me drinking a little."
"You are responsible for this mess, Masters!" John said to Sam. "You led my granddaughter to drink!"
"That's not true," Joycie said. "I drank on my own accord!"
"I don't want you around here," John said to Sam.
"You're very unreasonable!" Joycie said.
"No, I'm not!" JOhn yelled. "I just don't want anybody around here that's going to--to harm you!"
Sam and Joycie looked at each other, and laughed. Without further discussion, Sam left.
"I know you're only visiting here a short while, honey," John said. "I can't stop you from seeing him, but I'm warning you--be careful!"
In silence, Joycie went to her room.
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