And then they were walking down the city streets, shoulder to shoulder, for perhaps the last time, bumping into each other half out of familiarity and half out of a loss of equilibrium.

            “4^th bar we’ve been kicked out of this year!” Jerry said and High-fived Ted behind James’ head.

            “Great…” James said. “Harold, you dumbass. I didn’t even get to finish my beer.” But he smiled in spite of himself and breathed in the fresh night air. There was something dizzying in it. When the group stopped to talk to some sophomore girls they knew, he found himself searching the skies, and taking mental pictures of the landscape, of this place. He wanted to remember these days. It was hard to imagine that his life would ever get any better than it was today. He was reading the signs on the buildings, memorizing the street names, and listening to the sound of cars driving by when he felt a tug on his shoulder.

            “Come on,” Jerry said. “We’re going to Erin’s house, they’ve got food and drink.”

            “Ah to the house of Erin-” Harold began.

            “Shut up, Harold!” their voices shouted in chorus.