April 1987
I was changing out of my work clothes and into an outfit that better suited my personal taste. It's not too different, just less bright colors. Jenko invited us all out to formally welcome the newest recruit, Tom, without the pressures of being at work.
I had Queen's vinyl Jazz playing on my record player as I got ready. I have so many albums that range from Jimmy Buffet, to The Beach Boys to Madonna. I have a lot of albums from Queen, The Beatles, and Aerosmith, as well as Frank Sinatra, Elvis, and Bob Marley. I recently picked up Aerosmith's Permanent Vacation, and Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet last time I went to the record store. Judy usually likes to go with me, otherwise I just go alone.
I was putting on my black converse shoes when my phone rang. I reached over to the table beside my red couch and picked up the receiver.
"This is Gregg," I said, putting the receiver between my cheek and my shoulder while tying the laces of my sneakers.
Pacino walked up right in front of me, demanding to be pet like the sassy boy he is. I smiled at him and let out a little chuckle and I rubbed his brown furry head.
"It's Hanson," the deep voice on the other end said.
"Tom, hey!" I said cheerfully. I did not question how he got my number but I asked, "are you coming out with us tonight?"
"Yeah, I am," he said. I tried to focus on his voice instead of Don't Stop Me Now that was blaring from my record player. "I was calling to ask what I wear?"
"What do you mean?" I asked as I walked over to my record player and I lifted the needle up before turning it off.
"I mean... do I still teenage-it-up?"
I chuckled softly, "no, man, we are off the clock."
"Okey-dokey."
I sat back down and teased him by saying, "just be sure to use a whole bottle of pomade."
"Pomade comes in containers," he tried to snap back.
I laughed and I heard him chuckle softly into the phone. I brought my hand up to the receiver to be able to continue holding it to my ear and relaxed my shoulder and I asked, "do you know how to get to Royal Lemon?"
"Royal Lemon?" He asked.
"Royal Lemon Bar and Grill," I said.
"Well... if you come from the south... it's a... right on Maple..."
"Left on Maple Drive," I corrected, "then a right on Green Way. Royal Lemon is on the left at the third light."
I could hear him scribble my directions down vigorously. I rolled my eyes and grinned, even though he couldn't see it. I reached over and scratched Pacino behind his ear which made his collar ring from the metal hitting itself.
He said, "great. Thank you, I'll see you there."
"Mm-hmm, bye, Tom," I said back and hung up.
I had on a pair of acid wash jeans, which I tightened around my waist with a thick black belt. I had a white tank top tucked into them, and a denim jacket that matched the pants over my arm. I checked myself out in the gilded full length mirror I have leaning against the wall in my living room, making sure my hair looked good and my outfit wasn't frumpy. I have another mirror that is hanging in my living room, it has a golden frame that I got from a second-hand store. I have it hanging opposite my window, it makes the room feel brighter.
Other things that occupy my living room are The Beatles and Queen posters, a white bookshelf against my wall where I keep my books, records, and some succulents and other little knickknacks, a potted plant in the corner for some greenery, the television stand that holds my television, a stool I got from a second-hand store where my record player sits, another stool by the window is where I keep a bowl of matchbooks and an ashtray full of burnt pieces of special wood that smell immaculate when lit, and a wooden coffee table over my rug to cover a bit of the original wooden floors. I have a big blue and white vase full of dried pampa grass in the corner, and I always try to keep a vase of fresh flowers on my dining table at all times.
My coffee table has become the home to a pile of vintage Vogue and LIFE magazines that I have acquired over the years, todays newspaper, my unfinished cup of early grey tea from this morning, a candle, and the remote for my television. There is also a bottle of a wine-red nail polish on the corner that I will need to put away soon. I keep a white blanket draped over the back of my red couch with a couple of throw pillows, I always use vintage gold frames for all of the photographs I hang on my walls, and the curtains hanging over my windows are dark and heavy even though I try to let in as much light as possible.
I always think that Pacino feels left out whenever I leave the house without him. I always try to take him out of the house as much as I can. We go on walks together, we hike, and I'll always take him with me to get a coffee. There's a local place in town that has outdoor seating that allows dogs, and if you ask they'll give you a small cup of whipped cream for them. I couldn't take Pacino with me tonight, so I gave him a little treat to occupy him before I left my apartment.
It was hard to find parking near the bar, so I had to walk a little ways. I walked up to the bouncer and handed him my ID.
"Is this a real ID?" He eyed me coldly.
"Yes, it's a real ID," I answered, trying not to sound sarcastic. I pointed to a table my team was at and said, "those are my people. I'm with Jenko."
"What's your name?" He asked dryly.
"Mickey— Michelle," I said.
"What's your sign?"
"Why? Do you want to buy me a drink?" I asked sarcastically, but he was not amused.
After a few long seconds of annoyance, he asked, "what's your birthday?"
"December 2nd."
"I can't let you in."
"Why not?"
"You're not twenty-one."
"Look at my name. Michelle Gregg. I gotta be on some sort of list or something."
The bouncer glared at my ID before finally checking his list. I saw his eyes go down the line, then he stopped. Probably when he saw my name. He huffed and handed my ID back to me and let me inside. I am not yet twenty-one, but Jenko has a good relationship with the owner of the Royal Lemon and he lets me in, only if I do not drink alcohol and only when Jenko is there with me.
"Mickey!" Jenko greeted me and I slid in an empty chair next to him. Penhall, Judy, and Ioki were already there. "Hey, kiddo, how goes it?"
"Peachy keen, jelly bean." I smiled at him. I took a napkin from the table to spit out my gum and I crumbled it up and put it in my pocket.
"How was dog-sitting?" Doug asked.
I had to babysit my neighbors black Labrador for a couple days this week while he was working night shifts. I love dogs, so I kept annoying everyone with funny stories of how he would try to sneak food off the counter and how he curled up in the cutest ball at the foot of my bed at night with Pacino. I do that anyway with Pacino though, but everyone loves Pacino.
"He is such a sweetheart. Pacino got along great with him."
"I'd love a dog," Doug said.
"You practically are one," Ioki joked. "And I mean that in the nicest way possible."
Jenko looked behind me and said, "hey, Hanson! You made it!"
I twisted around to see Tom coming up to our table. He seemed a little shy, so I gave him a smile, and I was happy to finally see him outside of work. Man, he is really cute. I tried not to think about it and I fluffed my dark hair over my shoulder.
"I'd never miss to see what you kids are like outside of work," Tom said. He walked over to my side of the table and sat beside me. He wore his hair neatly, but it looks like Jump Street has been influencing him. He had a blue button up tucked into his casual blue jeans with a bit of his white undershirt poking out the top.
"I like your hair," Ioki pointed out.
Tom ran his fingers through it and said, "it looks like I've been in a freaking car wreck."
"No, it doesn't. It makes you look hip," Judy said.
"I think it makes me look homeless."
"What's your drink?" Doug asked him.
"Corona," Tom said.
"Beach lover, I presume?" Jenko asked.
"Yes, sir."
"I'm off the clock, Tom," Jenko chuckled, "call me Jenko."
I chuckled softly and played it off by scratching my cheek. He wants us to call him Jenko whether we are on the clock or not. Jenko's humor can be slightly dry, but poor Tom isn't used to it.
"Yes, sir— Jenko." Tom turned to me and asked, "what's your drink? I can grab it while I grab mine."
"Nah-ah-ah," Jenko clicked his tongue.
Doug looked at me with bug eyes. "Still?!"
"Still what?" Tom asked while I shook my head kindly at him.
"How long are you going to be nineteen for?" Ioki asked.
"Just a few more months," I said, "I'm trying to get old as fast as I can, I promise."
"You're only nineteen?" Tom asked.
I nodded softly. "Yeah."
"When is your birthday?"
"Beginning of December," I said.
"Then I'll just get you a Coke?" Tom asked, raising his eyebrows slightly as he waited for my answer.
I nodded and he got up and headed to the bar.
Doug chuckled, "he thought you were a couple years older than him."
"Why?" I asked.
He shrugged. "Cause you've been at Jump Street for two years."
I thought it was kind of funny that he thought I was older than him. I think I heard Jenko say that he is twenty-one, so I'm not much younger. I do feel mature for my age though. I did a lot of summer classes when I was in high school so I finished early, which allowed me to join the Academy when I was seventeen. They only wanted to see my diploma, not my age. Of course, when they found out I got in major trouble but that's how I was sent to Jump Street.
When Tom came back with his beer and he handed me a glass of brown bubbly soda and Jenko said, "only one rule for nights out: no work talk allowed."
"Preach," Doug said, lifting his glass in cheers and we all joined.
"We work hard and we play hard here at Jump Street," Jenko said.
When all the glasses were clinked, Judy said, "I've got some family from Georgia coming up to visit in a couple of weeks."
"Got any hot cousins?" Doug asked.
"Shut up, Doug," Ioki laughed and Doug playfully punched his shoulder.
"I've been on a hunt for this Stephen King book called The Shining, but every time I try to look for it, it's gone," I said.
"Ever think that it's too scary to be in bookstores?" Ioki asked.
"That never crossed my mind," I said.
"I thought you hated scary stuff," Tom said.
"It's quite selective. Will I read about a man going crazy and possessed to kill his entire family? Yes. Will I watch a film about people getting murdered in their homes? Yes. But will I have nightmares? Also yes."
"I'll remember not to let you babysit," Jenko joked.
"How's the kid, Jenko?" I asked.
"He and Rachel are doing well. He likes to kick around a lot, but we are psyched," Jenko said. Jenko's wife is pregnant with their first son. She's due in a few weeks so we have been excitedly waiting for a little kid to be running around the chapel. And I know that Jenko cannot wait to be a dad.
"Just like his old man," Ioki joked.
"Tell us about yourself, Tom," Judy said, bringing all the attention to Tom. The man of the hour.
"What do you want to know?" Tom asked and he took a sip.
"Besides work, what's your favorite thing to do?" She asked.
"I love bowling," Tom said.
"Bowling?" I asked, "I've never been bowling."
Tom's eyes widened with shock. "You've never been bowling?"
"Never."
"Our next day off, I'll take you bowling."
"Bet," I said and took a sip of my soda.
When the waiter came by, we ordered fries for the table and our own meals which Jenko humbly paid for.
Tom's eyes wondered around the table and he said, "it's strange not to see you all in your gear."
"It's even weirder to see us all in our uniforms," Doug said and shuddered. "We all look like we have a group costume for Halloween."
"How are you all going to spend your, well deserved, weekend off?" Jenko asked.
"Mick and I are thinking of going to see a movie," Judy said.
"What movie?" Ioki asked.
"Dirty Dancing," Judy giggled. "Rumor has it that Patrick Swayze takes his shirt off."
"We are going to make sure it's not a lie," I added.
"You girls," Ioki chuckled and shook his head as he ate a fry.
"What?" Judy asked, "it's not any different if you guys got together to see... Charlie's Angels."
"I thought policing would be more like Charlie's Angels," Doug said jokingly. But I also think he was serious.
Ioki spoke up and said, "hey, Tom, how do you feel it's been going? Can't be easy if scary ol' Mick here is watching your every move."
Doug joined in on the joke, "scary broad. A real bitch."
"Hey!" I laughed. I didn't want them to scare Tom off. The job will do that for us.
Judy said, "don't listen to them, Tom. Mickey isn't mean."
"Thank you," I said.
"And she isn't scary," she finished.
"Thank you."
Tom smiled softly at me. "I think I can manage."
"Well, it's your first day off since you started," I said to Tom as I wiggled my straw in my soda to move the ice around. "Anything you are gonna do to celebrate?"
He blew a raspberry and said, "I'll probably sleep for good half the day..."
"This job does wear you out," Judy nodded.
"And down," Doug added.
"Hey! Me, your boss, is still here," Jenko spoke up.
"Hey, what about bowling?" Tom asked.
"Oh, that's right." I clicked my tongue. "That's more of an evening sport, isn't it?"
Tom smiled and nodded. "It's a date."
Everyone was silent for a second before I added, "you guys can come too if you want."
"Yeah." Tom cleared his throat. "Little outing with the gang."
"No, thanks," Doug said as the waiter was approaching us with our dinners, "I like to spend as little amount of time with you goons as possible."
I laughed, "oh please."
"We are your best friends," Judy said as the waiter was putting our food in front of us.
"Yeah, whatever," Doug laughed and squished his burger in his hands and took a bite.
"I am going to go for a run," Ioki said, "and maybe meet up with my lady-friend."
"Lady-friend? I gotta hear about this," Doug said.
"Nothing special," Ioki said with a shrug. "Just a friend, who happens to be a lady."
Jenko spoke up, "if no one is gonna ask me what I'm doing tomorrow, I'll just tell ya. I have a meeting tomorrow with the mayor. He seems pretty excited about what we've been accomplishing at Jump Street. I think he's gonna start giving us some more funding. He doesn't exactly like it yet, but he wants to see what we can do."
We all exclaimed happily at the news. It took a while for the mayor to approve of Jump Street when it first took off, so knowing that he accepted and supported us meant everything.
"Are you serious?" I asked.
"As the plague," Jenko said with a wink.
Doug lifted up his beer again and said, "to Jump Street."
We all grabbed our glasses and joined him in the cheers. "To Jump Street!"