Marcel Winatschek

The Plainclothes Cop

Lydia’s grill party was the kind of evening that sounds absurd in the retelling and actually was. Almost everyone showed up. I dragged Eniz along even though he happened to have the day off. Betty got hit by one of those jumping-jack fireworks. I had unreasonable fun with the fire starter. The ketchup was both hot-flavored and expired, which I’m still thinking about. Madi stole the room with that laugh of hers, as she always does.

Then Eniz pulled a classic Eniz move—I genuinely can’t go into the details for legal reasons—and somehow managed to attract the attention of a plainclothes cop. At a grill party. Thanks to Lydia and her parents for the food and the hospitality.

Now everyone’s praying for good weather Friday night so our own party can happen outside. If not, we’ll find somewhere else. There’s always somewhere else.