It was New Years’ Eve and I was sitting at home with nothing to do. I was contemplating going out to a club, but at thirty-nine, I didn’t really feel like I Would fit into the younger crowd at most clubs, so I decided to settle down, smoke a cigar, have a shot of brandy and watch “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve” on the television.
It was about eleven thirty when there was a knock on my apartment door. I looked out the peep hole and could only see the top of a head. She took a step back and looked down the breezeway. I could tell it was the young teenage daughter of my neighbor from across the breezeway. I had met her only once in passing after having moved in about a month back. I was embarrassed that I didn’t even remember her name.
I cracked open the door.
“Happy New Year,” I remarked, trying to act a bit cheerful. “What’s up?”
“Nothing,” she replied, “I was wondering if you want to party a bit.”
I scratched my head in disbelief. A cute teenage girl asking me if I wanted to party on New Year’s Eve. Part of me knew it was a bad idea and part of me said, “Go for it.”
“Where’s your mother?” I asked.
“She went out with her boyfriend,” my neighborly friend replied. I took a step back and allowed her to slip into my apartment.
“I forgot your name,” I said, as I closed and latched the door.
“Tashita,” she replied, as she turned and watched me lock the door.
“How old is Tashita?” I asked.
“Seventeen,” she replied.
“So does Tashita have a boyfriend?” I casually inquired, stepping past her and retaking my seat on my recliner.
“No,” she replied taking up a seat on my couch.
I stared at the television for a few seconds, wondering just where the unsuspecting visit was going to lead.
I offered her a drink.
“Do you have anything other than a coke?” she asked.
“I’m not sure I want to go to jail for contributing to the delinquency of a minor,” I replied.
“I won’t tell, if you don’t,” she replied, pleading, “It’s New Years, we have to celebrate!”
“Celebrating can be dangerous,” I said.
Tashita looked over at me and smiled.
“Are you going to be difficult?” She pressed.
I slipped into the kitchen and took out a bottle of Amaretto. I loved the taste of Amaretto. I poured some into a shot glass and slipped it on to the coffee table, along with the half full bottle of Amaretto. Tashita looked at the shot glass for only a second.
“Oh yeah,” she said, “I love this stuff. It can get you messed up in a hurry!”
“Yes, it can,” I acknowledged. I looked at the clock. It was 11:45. Fifteen minutes until a new year. I downed a shot, as did Tashita. Tashita quickly poured a refill, as I kicked off my tennis shoes and reclined in my barcaolounger. I watched as she downed the second shot and wiped her lips with the back of her hand.
“This stuff is great!” tashita declared, pouring a third shot.
“Slow down,” I warned. “You don’t want t pass out before the New Year.”
Tashita laughed.
“I’m fine,” Tashita declared. She pulled her t-shirt from her jeans and reclined on the couch.
“There is no way I’d stand in Times Square in freezing weather just to watch a ball drop,” I remarked.
“Me neither,” Tashita said.
Tashita was cute. Her jet black hair was curly and long and she had a killer figure with a booty that just begged to be squeezed.
“Do you mind if I use your bathroom?” Tashita asked.
I pointed her in the direction she needed to travel and watched as she sautéed across my living room. It was 11:50pm. Ten minutes left in the year.
I looked at the clock and it was 11:55pm.
“Are you going to bring in the New Year taking a shit?” I asked.
“No,” I heard her say from behind the partially closed bathroom door, “I’ll be right out.”
I watched the clock ticking down on the television and called out the time.
“One more minute,” I announced. I heard the toiler flush.
“Thirty seconds,” I called out.
In the corner of my eye, I saw movement, but didn’t really look, as I was glued to the television. I poured two shot glasses of Amaretto. Tashita stood in silence beside my barcolounger.
“Ten, nine, eight . . “
I handed a shot glass to my guest.
“Five four, three, two, one… Happy New Year!”
We touched shot glasses and simultaneously downed our drinks. I reached to instinctively hug my New Year’s guest as she reciprocated, each of us slipping our arms around each other, for the obligatory hug and a light kiss on the cheek. Suddenly, I realized Tashita was no longer attired in her jeans.
“Where are your jeans?” I asked.
Tashita smiled.
“I decided to get comfortable,” she replied, quickly adding, “You should do the same.”
My eyes locked on to hers.