The next afternoon I had walked down to the post office, I scribbled down a picture postcard to my mother-fiery orange maples and a mountain stream. I placed a sentence on the back that advised: 'Plan to see Vermont's autumn foliage between mid September and early October, when it is at it's vivid best.'

As I was adding my postcard to the out of town slot, I noticed Bunny was across the room, his back facing me, scanning through the numerous rows of numbered boxes. He had stopped at box 247, which happened to be my own, he bent his upper half and slip something in it. Straightened his posture and left quickly, hands in his pockets and his sandy mop of hair flopping in different directions. I walked over to my box and peeked inside, there was a letter.

Richard old Man

What do you Say we have Lunch on Saturday, maybe somewhere around 1? I know this Great little place. Cocktails, business. My treat. Please come.

Yours,

Bunny.

p.s. wear a Tie. I am Sure you would have anyway but they will drag some godawful one out from the back and meke (s.p.) you Wear it if you Don't.

I took a second or two to look at the note, then slipped it into my pocket and walked out of the post office.

******************************************

I had high hopes that today's weather would be cooler for my lunch with Bunny, because my best jacket was a scratchy dark tweed, but when I woke up on Saturday it was extremely hot and it was getting hotter.

"Gonna be a scorcher today," the janitor said as I passed him on my way to the bathroom. "Indian summer." I could hear from behind me.

When I walked into the bathroom I was unpleasantly surprised to see Judy Poovey, who lived just a few doors down from me, at the sink brushing her teeth.

"Hello, Richard." Said Judy pleasantly, "Hello," I said trying focus on working my tie. "You look cute today."

"Thank you."

"Got a date?"

I removed my gaze from the mirror to face her. "What?"

"Where are you going?"

"Oh, um I'm going out to lunch with "Edmund Corcoran."

"You know Bunny?"

"Sort of, yes. Do you?"

"A little bit he was in my art history class with his little buddy and his buddy's sister, I think that's what her association with him is."

"Henry and Angelina Winter?"

"Yeah, those two." She began to fluff out her hair in the mirror. "I think their assholes, especially his sister."

"I kind like them both." I said offended.

"I don't." She parted her hair as she said this. "He's always been a bastard to me. I hate the twins too."

"Why? The twins are nice."

"Oh yeah? Ok then listen to this," she took her long blood red stiletto nails and raked through her hair separating her curls. "I was at a party last term, and I was pretty drunk, like shitfaced drunk and sort of dancing, right? So I was dancing and I stumbled over the girl, I think her name is Camila? Anyway, she got annoyed and the next thing I know I feel beer run down my face. And apparently her brother, and the other brother and sister saw what had happened and came over to us." Judy was pulling her hair out of her face and in a ponytail. "So anyway, the boy twin starts yelling in my face and the Winter siblings stood there and their faces were redder than my nails, well more so the girl than her brother. So I told them to kindly fuck off." She was putting on her eye makeup and continued. "And while the boy is yelling at me, a buddy of mine, Spike Romney, saw him and came over to us. And he's a pretty good size compared to Henry, so he comes over and something just snapped in his sister. She used all of her power, knocked over Spike and just started wailing on him, to the point he had a black eye, a busted lip, and a broken nose. And she's pretty good size too, I think she's like 6'1, but when she was finished her knuckles were busted open, a busted lip, and a bruise on her cheekbone."

"Wow." Is all that came out of my mouth. I was amazed that she did that, but in a good way, in a way that it doesn't make me fear her, just a little bit more intimated.

"Yeah, and when Henry and the boy twin pulled her off she was trying to break free. She was one feisty little bitch.

And that's why I think they're all assholes."

******************************************

After my interaction with Judy, she offered to give me a lighter and cooler jacket to wear. I refused but she insisted.

I met up with Bunny at our planned meeting spot.

"How have been, old man?" Bunny asked as we sat down.

"I'm alright. What about you?"

"I'm alright."

Our waiter came over and asked us what we'd like to drink and eat, and when he left Bunny said this, "There is nothing I hate more than a faggot who thinks there better than everyone else. That's why most of them work in places like this."

I was shocked, I didn't think Bunny would say something like that. Well, when I first met him, he seemed like that kind of person, I originally had placed him in the category of people who don't don't agree with the life choices of a homosexuals, but got along with them anyway, now it seems like that's not his category.

(Sorry for all the time skips)

******************************************

After a while of laughing, drinking, and a cigar that Bunny insisted that we smoked. We talked about a list of multiple topics. How Henry and Bunny met, California, Bunny's girlfriend Marion, what the girls are like in California, where our dads work, and if I had taken interest in any of the girls at Hampden. We stopped our conversation when the waiter dropped our bill off.

"I hate to do this to you, but why don't you stand me lunch this time?"

I raised a drunken eyebrow and l laughed, "I don't have a cent on me."

"Neither do I," Bunny said. "A funny little thing I've seemed to have left my wallet at home."

"Oh, come on. You're joking."

"Not all." He said lightly. "I don't have a penny, nickel, or dime on me. I'd turn out my pockets for ya, but then Twinkletoes would see."

I soon became acutely aware of our malevolent waiter, who was lurking in the shadows of the restaurant, and no doubt listening in on our conversation. "Well, uh, how much is it?" I asked Bunny. He ran his unsteadied finger down the column of food and drinks. "Um, it comes to two hundred and eighty-seven dollars and fifty-nine cents. And that's uh, without tip." said Bunny. I was stunned at our total and I was baffled at his lack of concern. "That's quite a lot."

"Well, all that booze, ya know."

"What are we going to do?"

"Can't you, I don't know write a check or something?" He said casually.

"I don't have any checks."

"Well, then put on your card."

"I don't have a card."

"Oh, come on."

"I don't." I spoke with aggravation, as I was getting slightly annoyed with the blonde man that was sat in front of me. "Sit tight, old man." He whispered to me, then left the table. His fist in his pockets, and the white of his socks flashing in the dim lights.

He was gone for about a few minutes, and I began to think that he left me here, and escaped through a window in the restroom. When a heard a door shut, there he was sauntered into the room. "No need to worry your precious little neck anymore," Bunny said as he slid into his chair. "All is well."

"What'd you do?"

"Called Henry."

"He's coming?"

"Yup, and Angelina too. They'll be here in two shakes."

"Are they upset?"

"Nope." Bunny said popping the 'p' at the end. "They were happy to do it. And between you and me they both need to get out of the house more. I think they're dammed glad to get out of that house."

After ten minutes of an excruciating uncomfortable silence, Henry walked in with a book underneath his arm and Angelina by his side. "See. Told ya he'd come." Bunny whispered. "Oh hello." Bunny said pleasantly. "Boy am I gals to se-" "Where's the check?" Henry was quick to cut Bunny off from his excuse making. He spoke with a toneless and deadly voice. "Here you go pal." Bunny put a hand in each pocket and fumbled around looking for the bill. "Thanks a million. I really owe you on-" Angelina cut Bunny off this time and gave a sympathetic smile and said, "Hello." She spoke with coolness in her voice. "Hello." I said a returned her smile. "How are you?" Henry asked, he sounded like a robot, cold and monotone. "I'm fine." "That's good."

"Here you go ole top," Bunny said as he produced the check and put it in-front of Henry. "Thank you, Edmund." Angelina said coldly as she took the check from Bunny, and walked over to the cash register.

"She only uses my full name when she's frustrated with me." Bunny spoke in a tone of sadness and hung his head, as we walked out to Angelina's car. It was a pastel yellow Volkswagen Beetle. We all got in me and Bunny in the back and Henry in the passenger seat. Waited a minute or two, Henry opened his book and started reading, Bunny was picking and biting his nails. Angelina finally walked out and got in the car. She gave Bunny a small disappointed glare through the rear view mirror.

******************************************

We made it to Bunny's house. Angelina stopped the car and Bunny leaned over in between Henry and Angelina. "Thank you for paying tonight and picking us up." He said giving Henry a shoulder squeeze and Angelina a kiss on the cheek. He then turned to me and said, "Thank you for joining me for lunch." And with that he hopped out of the car and stumbled up his porch stairs and entered his house.

We continued to drive until we got to my dorms and like they did at Bunny's, they stopped in front of my room. Henry turned in his seat to face me. "I'm very sorry," he said.

"Oh no, please," I said, embarrassed. "Just a mix-up, I'll pay you back."

"I wouldn't dream of such a thing. It's his fault anyway." He ran a hand through his hair, while Angelina put a hand on Henry and rubbed his back soothingly, "It's alright Hen, you know how Eddie is." Angelina spoke in a soothing motherly tone. "I know but he did to Richard. It's one thing to do it to friends but it's another thing to drag a perfectly good stranger into it." This is the first I've seen Henry show emotion. I just sat their and listened to their exchange.

"He did tell you, he was taking you out didn't he, Rich?" Angelina asked, her voice had a slight tone of accusation.

"Well, yes," I said.

"And he just happened to leave his wallet at home?" She asked the same tone as before. "It's alright. I-I don't mind." I stuttered slightly.

"No, Richard, it's not alright." Henry snapped. "It's a terrible trick. How were you to know? He takes it on faith that whoever he's with can produce tremendous sums at moment's notice. He never thinks about things like this, you know, how awkward it makes everyone. Besides, what if we weren't home?" Henry rambled on.

"Henry, it's okay. I'm sure he honestly forgot it at home." I said to Henry trying to get him to calm down.

"Didn't you guys take a taxi?" Angelina asked shortly. "Who paid for that?" She raised an eyebrow to prove her point further.

I automatically went to protest, but my thoughts stopped cold. Bunny had paid for the taxi. He even made a little big deal about it.

"See, and he's not even clever about." Said Henry as he shook his head. I didn't know what to say, we just sat in silence for a moment.

"Well, I better go in. I'm going to have one hell of a hangover tomorrow." I said as I got out of the little car. "Yeah, that's not a bad idea." Angelina said with a somber chuckle. She looked down and faced me through the opened car window. "I'm sorry," She said. "Bunny, sometimes doesn't use his common sense."

"It's quite alright, thank you for taking me home."

"It's no problem, Rich." And with that she leaned out of her window and planted a kiss on the corner of my mouth. I walked up to the porch and watched as the Winter siblings drove away.

"I am going to most definitely have one hell of a hangover tomorrow." I whispered to myself, shook my head, and walked into my room. I collapsed on my bed in a drunk stupor. "Good night moon." I whispered to myself and fell asleep.