Meet up with friends

Tom and Derek were two of my best friends at school. The three of us were computer science majors, and we shared most of our classes. The burgers we had hit the spot, and the movie was a lot of fun too. It was the most recent super hero movie to hit the big screen. We were suckers for any comic book film, and we had been looking forward to seeing this one for a while. It was close to ten when the movie finished. We began going over our favorite parts while we headed to the parking lot.

Tom stopped just before we reached our cars. "The night is still young boys. What do you say about having some fun across the street?"

The parking lot for the theater happened to be right next to The Pit, a local club and popular party spot for the town's college kids. There was beer, loud music, and lots of pretty young girls dancing and flaunting their stuff. It would definitely make for a fun night. My problem was that I couldn't afford it.

"Well I'm in the middle of a long dry spell right now, so I'm game. I haven't scored since that night with both of your mothers," Derek said. That earned him a couple punches.

"I don't know guys, can't we just go play some xbox or something? I don't really have the money for partying tonight." I said.

"Oh come on, just come hang out with us at least. I'm sure some fugly girl in there would love to buy you a drink," Tom said, laughing at his own joke.

"I really can't tonight."

Tom and Derek turned to look at each other. Coming to a silent agreement, they nodded in unison. "Sucks to be you. We'll let you know how the night went. See you on Monday, man." Tom said. With that, they headed across the street. What jerks. I watched them get to the doors just behind a group of girls who looked dressed to kill. The man at the door waved the women in before charging my friends the entrance fee. It was then that I noticed the big sign hung by the door that said "Ladies Night! Free admission for any lady with a college ID!"

My mouth dropped. I couldn't believe it! Again I was witnessing women getting what I couldn't have based on nothing more than their gender and good looks. Just by being a young lady in college you could party and get drunk completely for free. I, however, was going to have to spend the night in my shitty house playing video games alone and sober. It was more than I could take. Normally I would have simply laughed and shook my head upon seeing women get into a club for free. It isn't really anything new. But after what happened with my sister earlier in the day, something inside me snapped. Deep down I knew I was angrier at my own situation, but I began to heatedly rant against women. I shouted about the injustice of it all. All my frustration from the day poured out of me as I railed against the manipulative and using nature of all women everywhere. Eventually I stopped and quieted down. I actually felt relieved to have let off some steam like that. I began to get worried that someone might have heard me, so I quickly looked around to see if I had caught anyone's attention. I sighed in relief seeing that nobody was in the area. Making my way to my car, I prepared to head home. That was when I heard the laugh. I turned to look at the source and saw an old lady that was standing in an alley between two buildings at the back of the parking lot. She was looking right at me and obviously laughing at my outburst.

"You are funny boy," she said. She had long gray hair covered by a purplish bandana. Her clothes were old and dirty. A blanket was wrapped around her body and she was standing next to a garbage can containing a fire. I don't know how I missed her before. Guilt flooded me when I thought maybe I had just subconsciously ignored her because she appeared to be homeless. The guilt was replaced by embarrassment when I remembered what she must have heard me say.

"I do not think you are liking women much," she said.

She had a funny way of talking. She didn't seem to be angry at all, though. I really wanted to drive away and leave the whole scene behind me, but I didn't want to be rude. I decided the least I could do was apologize to her.

"I'm sorry, I didn't really mean all that stuff I said. It... it has just been a rough day."

"What could have happened to make you say such things, I wonder?" she said.

"It's just... well between my sister making more money from one night of sex than I do in a month and seeing those girls get into the club for free, I kinda felt like it was all unfair you know?"

"I see. That does sound troubling."

"Anyways, I'm sorry again for what I said. I'm heading home now." With that I turned to my car, intending to finally head home.

"Wait, boy. I think I can help you with your problem."

I stopped. Help me with my problem? What could she possibly do to help? I should have just ignored her and got in my car, but I didn't. She was being nice to me despite the rude things I said, so I reasoned I should at least hear her out. Whatever piece of wisdom she planned to impart upon me might even be worth hearing. I walked to where she was huddled close to her fire.

"Hold out your hand, boy," she said.