Seth celebrated New Year’s Eve with Keri and her family.
“Happy 2007!” Carol, Keri’s mother, shouted.
“Happy New Year!” Marlon yelled as he passed around glasses of champagne.
“So, Keri,” Carol’s friend Angie said, “what do you want to do with your life after high school?”
“I’m not 100 percent sure just yet. Besides, I still have another two years to think about it.”
Angie sipped her champagne. “You don’t even have some idea? Are you going to further your education and become something, or waitress your whole life or hope to God you marry into a rich family?”
Carol put down her empty glass, reached for the champagne bottle and took a gulp. “My daughter has a few ideas. They are great and both require further education.”
“Great. May I ask what they are?”
Keri slowly swallowed her champagne. “I’m thinking either a chef or an early childhood educator.”
“Those are wonderful, Keri. I’m sure you’ll succeed in whatever you choose.” Angie turned to Seth. “How about you? What are your plans?”
All eyes were now on Seth. An extremely uncomfortable, heavy feeling hit him. He chugged his champagne, hoping the alcohol would ease some of the pressure.
“I really enjoy writing and filmmaking, so I’d like to pursue something in that field.”
All eyes remained on Seth. It got eerily quiet for a moment. He sank deeper into the couch as this heavy feeling grew more intense.
Carol’s abrupt laughter filled the room. “Are you still on that crap, Seth? Oh, good luck!”
Angie held her hand up to Carol’s mouth to shut her up. “That’s very ambitious, Seth. I like the fact you chose a career path that’s competitive and entertaining. If it’s something you really enjoy”—Angie turned to Carol—“don’t let anyone tell you any different.”
Carol rolled her eyes. “Please,” she muttered.
Angie finished her champagne. “Carol, what do you have against Seth?”
Carol’s face grew red from embarrassment, as now all eyes were on her. She took a moment. “Nothing, really. Nothing personal, anyway. I like Seth. I just don’t like the career path he wants to follow.”
Angie asked, “But why? Do you feel as though he’s only setting himself up for failure, and if he fails, you’re afraid he’s going to suck your daughter into the tenth level of hell with him?”
“Yes!” Carol shouted. “Exactly!”
Angie laughed, which clearly irritated Carol. “What? What the hell’s so funny?”
Angie brought her laughter to a soft simmer. “Dan Aykroyd, James Cameron and David Cronenberg.”
Carol was confused. “What about them?”
Angie was silent for a moment. “What do they all have in common?”
“They’re all in the film industry.”
“Correct, but what else?”
Carol became more annoyed by the minute. She scratched her head. “Goddamn it, Angie. I don’t know. What?”
Angie smiled.
“Dan Aykroyd was born in Ottowa, James Cameron was born in Kapuskasing and David Cronenberg was born in Toronto.”
Carol gave Angie a stern look. “What the hell’s your point?”
“My point is these three men were practically born in our backyard. And they’re now household names, very successful men. If they can make it in that industry, so can Seth.”
Around three a.m. the party started winding down. Angie and her husband were the last to leave.
Carol gently shut the door and then turned to Seth, who was in the kitchen with Keri and Marlon. “All right, Seth. Gather your crap. You’re out of here!”
“What, why? He’s spending the night, Mom!”
Marlon took a sip of strong black coffee.
“Where did this drastic change in attitude come from?” Said Marlon.
Carol snapped, “I’ve never been so humiliated in my life!”
Seth thought for a moment. “I humiliated you?”
Carol stomped into the kitchen, grabbed a wine glass from the cupboard and filled it with boxed wine.
“You want to know what I think? I think the two of you planned this whole thing ahead of time!” Carol gulped her wine.
“That’s right, Carol. Angie, who I’ve never met until tonight, formed an alliance with me against you.”
“Ah-ha! So you admit it!” Carol threw her glass on the floor and lunged at Seth.
Marlon quickly jumped between them. “Seth admits nothing, Carol! There’s nothing to admit. Seth was being sarcastic.”
“Take your goddamn hands off me, Marlon! Why are you protecting him?”
“You’ve had too much to drink.” Marlon turned to Seth and Keri and signalled them to go upstairs.
They went up to Keri’s bedroom. She turns on her computer and put on soft background music.
Seth took a seat on Keri’s bed and rubbed the back of his neck. “That wasn’t the way I planned to start off the New Year.”
Keri swivelled around in her chair. “You know how she is when she’s been drinking.”
“I don’t think alcohol has anything to do with it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, the first time we all had the career discussion, your mom acted the same way.”
Keri shrugged. “I don’t know what to tell you, babe.”
All went quiet for a moment. Seth cleared his throat. “What do you think?”
“About what?”
“My career decision?”
Keri thought seriously about the question. “I think, in all honesty, if opportunity knocks, you should definitely take it. But the chances of that actually happening to you is probably one in a billion.”
Seth sat in shock, not knowing what to say.
“I’m not saying it won’t happen, Seth, but until it does, you might want to consider a career more, realistic and down to earth.”
Seth’s mouth dropped. He sat there stunned. After a couple of seconds he shook his head. “She’s gotten to you, hasn’t she?”
Keri shuffled her chair across the floor to her bed and put her hands on Seth’s leg. “Why don’t we change the subject, huh? There’s really no reason for us to argue over something so small and unimportant.” She swiftly moved her hands from Seth’s knees, unbuckled his belt and unzipped his fly.
“Now? Really, Keri. We’re going to get caught.”
Keri smiled. “Maybe so, but that’s all part of the thrill.”