One More Night #2 Over to Juan's House

Bill was driving his car with Robby in the passenger’s seat next to him. The sun was setting and the moon was starting show beyond the atmosphere. There was a rather peaceful silence in the car, or at least there was until Robby decided to talk.

“You wouldn’t have actually put me in the trunk if I said I wasn’t coming, right?” asked Robby.

“What’s her name again?” Bill asked ignoring Robby’s question.

“Joyce Reynolds.” Robby replied.

If you didn’t read One More Night #1, I highly recommend doing so. It more or less explains that Bill and Robby are gonna find a girl that Robby likes, Joyce Reynolds, so that Robby can talk to her. Robby isn’t entirely on board, but he is in the car and thus our story continues.

“Do you even know who Joyce is?” asked Robby.

“No.” said Bill.

“Then where are we going?” said Robby.

“To find Joyce Reynolds.” said Bill.

“And how are you going to do that if you don’t even know her?” Robby inquired.

“I don’t know who she is, but I know someone who does. His name is Juan.” said Bill.

“Who’s Juan? And how do you know that he knows Joyce?” Robby said with a confused look on his face.

“Juan is a friend of mine that knows everyone in the county, one way or another.” Bill replied.

“How’s that possible?” Robby asked. “I mean, I’ve never met him, so how can he know everyone in the county if he doesn’t know me?”

“You may not know Juan, but Juan knows you.” Bill explained. “He knows everyone by degrees of separation. He knows me as a personal friend; zero degrees of separation. He knows my brother as a brother of a friend; one degree of separation. He knows you, Robby, as a friend of a friend’s brother; two degrees of separation. As a matter of fact, he probably knows you several different ways.”

“I think I get what you mean,” said Robby, “he’s kind of like Kevin Bacon.”

“No,” Bill said as he shot Robby a confused look, “Juan can’t dance to save his life.” Robby was about to explain what he meant when he realized that Bill was pulling into the driveway of a house that was unfamiliar to him. “We’re here!” said Bill. Bill and Robby exited the car.

“Where are we?” asked Robby.

“Juan’s house!” Bill exclaimed as he and Robby made their way to the front door. When they reached the front door, Bill did something that confused Robby; instead of knocking or ringing the doorbell, Bill just smiled and waved, in no particular direction, and opened the door himself.

“Are you sure it’s okay to just walk in without knocking?” asked Robby.

“The reason people knock on doors is to announce their arrival in hopes of being admitted. Juan knows that we’ve arrived and that’s why he let us in.” Bill answered casually.

“I don’t follow.” said Robby.

“Juan’s a bit of a techie. He has a security system that allows him to admit people into his home, from wherever he may be, via his cell phone.” Bill explained. “That’s why I smiled and waved. I was saying hello to Juan.”

Bill and Robby entered a dimly lit room where they saw three guys sitting around a table playing poker. All three of them waved at Bill as he entered the room. One them got up and came to greet them.

“Hello Larry!” said Bill. “How’s tonight’s game going?”

“Excellent Bill! We would have waited to start the game but you said you couldn’t make it tonight.” said Larry.

“I’m actually just stopping by to see Juan. Is he here?” asked Bill.

“No, but he should be back in a couple of hours. Who’s this?” Larry asked while motioning towards Robby.

“This is Robby,” said Bill, “one of my brother’s friends. He’s actually the reason I’m here but before we continue talking, I need to visit the bathroom.” Bill looked at Robby, “Robby, why don’t you get acquainted with the guys until I get back.” Robby followed Larry over to the table as Bill went down the hall to the bathroom.

“Do you know how to play Texas Hold’em?” Larry asked Robby.

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Story by Tom Klingenfuss