The Backseat

Sitting in the backseat, we would joke and laugh as though we had been best friends for all of our lives. Light flooded in through the dusty, tinted windows, and shadowed our eyes from the harsh light of the Berkeley sun. Oldies played loudly on the radio, and we went mad, shaking our heads like crazed animals. We recorded a bit of that on Courtney’s camera, but when something has been recorded, it takes a bit of the soul out of a moment. I suppose that it was only fitting that the video had no sound.
I can still remember the taste of that pizza. I couldn’t exactly say that it was delicious, but it was good. Personally, I thought that there were so many tomatoes that it took away from the cheese. Oh, it was still a fine pizza. Huge and filling.
In the restaurant, we had so much fun. Tyree, you and Cameron were little devils! Oh, you know exactly what I mean. You shot things across the room with your straws, and Tyree, you shot some poor lady when Cameron ducked. Do you remember that?
We were so chaotic that night. We spilled Courtney’s glass, and I’m certain that the restaurant staff was completely fed up with us. I remember apologizing and taking Courtney to the bathroom to clean up. We laughed so hard that we couldn’t breath when we found ice cubes in her pockets. It was so childishly romantic. I can almost imagine children our age doing the same thing fifty years ago.
Of course, Berkeley is a romantic old city. It is so diverse and prestigious and full of anarchy. Of course, we were all of those things as well. Do you all remember when we went to that vintage clothing store? Oh, it was such fun. Courtney and I were downstairs looking for a witch dress, and you boys went upstairs to explore. When we went up after you, we found you trying on all sorts of hats. Cameron, you were dressed like a pirate, and Tyree, you bore an inexplicable resemblance to Popeye. In the end, I think that I even tried on a flying monkey hat, and Cameron tried on a fur coat and a purple hat. Of course we had to take pictures.
Walking the streets of the eclectic city was so much fun. Do you all remember the surprise that waited for us at the Wizard of Oz? We went in expecting an all out production, and what did we get? I’m sure you all remember. It was a nightmare come true. The show was for little kids, seven and under. Honestly, how many times does that happen in a lifetime? Oh, but you were all such good sports, and we had fun. Cameron, were you really scared of the Wicked Witch of the West, or were you just teasing me?
At the end of the show, do you remember meeting Toto? He was so cute, wasn’t he? Of course, he wasn’t our customary little black Toto, but he was a cute little snow white dog. Courtney, I remember you dragging me behind you to go pet him, and eventually we even took a picture.
As the sun began to set, we hiked up that huge rock too. It was so nice being up there with the four of you. I felt like I was sharing something very very special. I felt like I was sharing a part of me. Courtney, you were so scared, and Tyree, even you were nervous. I was so proud when the two of you conquered your fears. It was worth it though, wasn’t it? As we looked over the city and then at San Francisco, with the wind blowing in our hair, I can’t help but think that we all shared a sort of companionship.
It was the same when we stayed up late that night and climbed up onto the roof. Looking up at the stars is something that is very personal. When we were all together singing songs and staring up at the moon, I felt as though we were sharing something very special. We were friends, through and through, even despite our differences.
Through the hike up the rock, to the laughter during the play, to the craziness at the pizza place, to the race that you boys had at my aunt’s house, I think that the most important thing that the day proved, was that we were all friends. After all, it’s only your close friends that you can get so tired with, that you collapse with exhaustion in the back seat of a stranger’s van. We did it, and my goodness, it was certainly worth it.

-Lauren Hatch