The Kids Are Alright

One Of These Nights

"Now's your chance..."

"Why don't you do it?" Stan bounced his leg up and down and shifted on the cheap chair.

"Because it's your h-house." Bill gestured. "The p-pa-party has reached critical mass, pretty soon there will be no more beer opportunities." He had a way about him that made Stan just want to listen to him.

"My parents won't be happy if they catch me copping beers." Stan rubbed under his chin, feeling a little slick with nervous sweat.

"Then don't get caught." Beverly said simply over her shoulder as she stepped on a stool and over the back of the couch to get to the chair on it's left.

"I don't think it's that easy." Stan sighed.

"Sure it is. Just gotta be slick." Richie put down his comic before his eyes went wide. "Ooh like a spy!" He snapped with excitement and hopped onto the couch cushion next to Bill.

The floor scoffed under Mike's shoes as he leaned further and further into the freezer to try and get to the Popsicle box. Eventually, his feet lifted from the ground. "Are you sure there's a box left?" He called from his spot, hanging inside the cold.

"Yeah, it's under the frozen corn, I'm sure." Richie called back, licking the mound of frozen orange on the tiny wood stick. Beverly glanced up and her eyes easily landed on the empty Popsicle box under the coffee table.

"Why am I not surprised?" She whispered, shaking her head. She went to push herself up from the chair only to have Richie wave desperately at her to hold it. She glanced back at Mike, hanging in the freezer and grimaced.

It only took one more minute before Mike slipped and fell fully into the cold cold freezer. Richie burst into laughter and Bill giggled at his side. "Burn!" Richie cackled.

"F-Freezer burn..." Bill bumped his arm against Richie, who's laughter increased.

"You ok, buddy?" Beverly finally got up and walked over, pulling on Mike's belt to help him as he climbed out. Mike shook the little bits of ice that clung to his clothes and grinned.

"Yeah, there was a red one lodged behind the frozen peas." Mike happily shook his prize and opened it, licking down the Popsicle's side.

Beverly shook her head. "You guys are idiots."

She strolled over to stand behind Stan's chair and laid her hands on his shoulders, gripping him gently as she leaned over. "So, how's that beer coming?" She smiled.

Stan looked at his friends, looking eager as they stared at him. He sprung up. "Alright, alright. I'll be the hero today." He smirked and shook his head as they all cheered and whistled behind him.

Richie, Bill, Mike and Beverly stared up at the stairs for a few seconds. "He's gonna get caught." Bill whispered with regret.

"For sure." They all agreed and went back to eating their Popsicle's.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stan hopped up the stairs and into the kitchen.

"Stanley, I'm glad you're up here. You can meet your aunt Doris-" Andrea Uris grinned at her nervous son and sighed. "Ok,ok you don't have to, just bring these out for your mom, ok?" She laughed and thrust two beers into her sons hands.

"Alright!" Stan burst only to have his mother glance wearily at him. "Alright, I will bring these out for you..." He nervously added but she still looked confused. -"Mommy." His mouth clicked as he added a smile and she finally smiled back, patting his shoulders and dismissing him into the living room.