By Bruised, Achae and Ghost5-0

Steve raised his palm to Kevin, and Kevin raised his in return. "Steve, we were talking about the NKAT talks televised on GAN last night."

Steve heard a voice saying, "Oh, I hope LeGrand sure gets through to Ahn."

He recognized the voice instantly. It was that of his ex-girlfriend, Luann Meyer. Sharon raised her eyebrows in surprise to see she had made it to the party.

Luann had wavy brown hair that was shorter than most of the other girls wore it, but not too short for a girl. She had freckles, and glasses over her brown eyes. Luann was wearing a pink polo shirt with a blue cashmere sweater over it, corduroys and penny loafers.

Steve stuttered and he seemed to be paralyzed. "H-h-how did you get over here?"

"I'm Adrian's designated driver", Luann explained.

Steve turned his head down. "Oh."

"Know Luann?", asked Kevin.

"We broke up recently", said Steve.

"I held my breath at President LeGrand's negotiation with Ahn Soon-Yi to disestablish Communism in North Korea", said Kevin.

"LeGrand looked so dignified, so American at that negotiation", said Luann. "I admire that."

"But LeGrand has taken money from Ryan Ferrell, that lord of oral sex and enough sodas to make him a blimp. That's not dignified . . . or is it?"

"But so has Democratic hopeful Lyndsay Spelt."

"Spelt? Spelt with a Y in place of an I no doubt. I am not casting my vote for someone so illiterate she can't even spell her own name. Plus Spelt does want free education for illegal immigrants. Should we be paying for this when even American-born kids grow up unable to name the capital of Sudan?" Kevin lifted his cup of sapodilla juice in the air and drank from it.

"Khartoum."

"America's schools seem to be doing fine," said Steve.

"But why take the risk with 'Paunchball' LeGrand?", asked Kevin. "He will run them to the ground with his mandatory infiltration of drug propaganda into the curricula of hundreds of thousands of elementary schools."

"Oh, definitely, I know that. I'm not voting for LeGrand." Steve brushed his hair out of his face.

"LeGrand is grand!", said Luann. Then she laughed giddily.

Steve by now was tapping his feet around, floundering in awkwardness at seeing a girl he had broken up with.

The conversation turned back to Communism. "Should an attempt to convert the last Communist state on the planet be worth the president's time and Lincolns . . . or tens of thousands of dollars worth in a few Reagans?", asked Kevin.

"Good point," said Sharon.

"I think that LeGrand guy has got bigger fish to fry," said Jocasta. "Why should he focus all his foreign policy energy on North Korea?"

"Communism has been unpalatable to the Republican party after the regime change of the Sueoka Administration", said Kevin waving his hand in the air. "LeGrand thinks that if he doesn't shoot down some Red target he will appear soft on foreign policy issues to his voter base and lose in November."

"Soft, schmoft. He should stop being so uptight."

Steve listened as Luann began to speak. "It sends a good message to Americans when our president takes a firm stance on this, especially our kids. Think about the youth of the tenties, who protested and turned against Bush and eventually wiped out the stability we had enjoyed in the nineties. We want a message against Communism and radicalism."

There she goes again, thought Steve.

"The nineties brought us many good things . . . Pearl Jam, Beanie Babies, nose rings . . .", started Kevin, "But the presidency of Slick Willy and lack of social progress was not among them."

"The economy was strong, and back in the twentieth century Americans opposed all Communist states," answered Luann.

"Reagan's speeches with Gorbachev in the eighties were much more instrumental in defeating Communism than LeGrand's actions, as they allowed it to collapse as a global force. Now Communism has no global power, and in his refusal to speak to Ahn, LeGrand is simply being a daft buffoon who should be slapped with a fish."

"Well, do you want our president to be pro-Communist?"

"I really don't care if there are some people in the world who don't want capitalism", said Jocasta. "Capitalism . . . socialism . . . it's all good to me."

"The rejection of capitalism would pose a real danger to Western civilization, so it must be posing a danger in North Korea too", said Luann. "Just think . . . where would we be if we didn't have the free market to guide us through our lives?"

"North Korea is ranked the world's #14 superpower today. It has made gains far beyond its standing in the twenty-first century . . . ever since the charismatic, burger-loving Park Eu-jin transformed its technology magnificently in the eleventies. No danger to the economy there."

"And will shifting from Communism improve its economy even further?", asked Sharon.

"Well, when a windbag president in America tries to make it difficult for his trans-Pacific interlocutor by refusing to communicate -- did you see his face at that negotiation? -- North Korea is not going to improve its economy an inch."

Steve nodded along, not knowing what to say.

The conversation went on, and after a while Sharon noticed that Steve didn't have anything to say. "Should we let Steve lead the conversation?," Sharon asked Kevin.

"Superb idea," said Kevin. "Is there anything you have that you'd like to talk about?"

Steve then brought up the topic of homosexuality. "How about LeGrand's proposal to deny adoption rights to gay couples?"

"Spectacularly foolish," said Kevin, "When that man could not have gotten elected without contributions from friends who took it on the tongue."

"I don't see what the big deal is", said Jocasta. "If you like it straight, or if you like it gay, or lesbian, or bisexual, or asexual, or polyamory . . . it's all cool."

"I agree, we should accept everyone as they are", said Sharon. "Everyone has that individuality to them that they shouldn't give up. Some people like dogs, some people like cats. Some people like Birkenstocks, some like penny loafers."

"Ew, people need to think about how homosexuality can harm society", said Luann. "People forget that we are all interconnected."

Steve looked distraught at his Luann's statement. He thought for a second, then said, "I don't understand how a gay couple having sex in a bedroom in San Francisco can have an effect on a rice farmer in Indonesia."

"Well, it goes against the plans of the Creator. God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve."

Kevin looked at Luann standing sourly right across from her ex-boyfriend. "Apparently, God didn't make Luann and Steve either." His joke elicited a small grin from Sharon.

"Oh, no," said Jocasta. "Read what happened in the Bible. Originally God made only Adam. Then Adam wanted a wife and convinced God to take make a woman for him. It was sinful, fallible man who wanted Eve to be made."

"But what was God's intent?", asked Luann. "It's revealed later in Leviticus 18:22: 'Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.'"

"No, no, no", said Kevin. "It says 'Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman'. In other words, when you're lying with a woman, use the missionary position; when you're lying with a man, do it doggy style."

"The Bible really says that?", asked Steve, "So you should do it because it's in Leviticus?"

"Do you believe in the infallibility of the Bible? What about God -- d'you believe in God?", asked Luann.

Steve put his index up to his mouth and paused. "I don't know. I never really thought about God."

"Well, you're clearly thinking about one of the important moral issues of our time. Think about what God wants. I really hate it when I turn on TV, and they're showing a gay wedding."

"Awwwww, I think they look cute", said Sharon. "Seeing a couple in a tuxedo and another tuxedo, or in a gown and another gown . . ."

Luann's mouth was loose as if propped open, and her eyes jerked fretfully around. Steve could tell that she felt outnumbered.

"It's okay, Luann. Not everybody agrees on things. You just have to accept other people's opinions."

Steve moved in to hug Luann and offer her support, but she brushed him away and stormed off.

"I still don't see how you dated her, man," noted Kevin.

"Yeah... I see that too clearly with each passing day."

"Well, on that note, I have to start cleaning up", said Sharon. "The band is about ready to go, I just have to pay them. Would one of you help by collecting the cans and bottles and tossing them in the compactor?"

"I can do that," offered Steve.

"Thanks, Steve! I'll talk to you in a little bit." Sharon walked toward the stairs and motioned for the band to follow her. "Get your dues!" The band jubilantly rushed up the stairs, following Sharon.

Steve, Jocasta, and Kevin were left standing amidst the aftermath of the party.

"How many people were there? Soooo many bottles..." commented Steve.

"It's been quite a hit. Lemme go grab a bag or two to help you collect all the bottles and cans," Luann added. She walked away into the kitchen and started rummaging in cabinets and drawers to find some bags.

Kevin scratched his head and placed his hands against his hips. He watched Luann, then turned his head to Sharon, then turned his head back to Luann and headed out towards the kitchen. Steve watched him wander off, then he noticed Jocasta in the kitchen. She had a paper bag inserted over each hand. She waved back with both hands and the paper bags rustled. "St. Charles" was printed in red ink on each bag.

Steve began to fumble around the debris of the party and tucked bottles under his arms. Jocasta sauntered out and let the bags drop from her hands. The bags puttered to the floor, landing on their sides. Jocasta's lower lip curled down into a pout.

"You look cute when you pout."

"And what about when I don't?"

"I guess you're kinda cute," Steve joked. Jocasta stuck her tongue out at Steve and bent down to tip the bags upright. Just then Sharon came flying down the stairs.

"NO! Those bastards!" She shrieked. The band appeared at the top of the steps, cautiously approaching Sharon.

"The band? What did they do?" asked Jocasta.

"No, not them. The AALL thieves. I was going to pay the band with my AALL card, but the one I have is a fake! How do I pay them?" She threw her hands at the band and almost lost her balance as she spun around. "They need to get paid."

"Are you sure your card isn't somewhere else?" Steve offered.

"I didn't have any rooms locked while the party was going on. But wouldn't you have recognized them? I tried to complete the transaction three times. It kept telling me card failure. So I inspected the card I do have, and I realized it doesn't have my picture on it let alone a bar code to swipe. Steve, you really need to find those bastards."

"Do you need me to pay the band? You can always pay me back if you want. The party was great, Luann, and the band was an excellent touch. I don't mind backing you," Steve pointed to his back pocket where his wallet sat in his cargo pants.

"I think I'm going to have to say yes. Until I get my AALL card back, I'm going to have to freeze all my assets. Heck, I should be on the market for a stolen one. Maybe I'd get mine back!"

"Don't say that," said Jocasta. "Those people are thieves stealing your identity. You're much more dignified than they are."

"Thanks, Jocasta. Ah, man," she ran her fingers through her hair, "I'm going to have to be on the phone for a long time. I'd hate to have you over here cleaning up for me."

"It's no problem. Besides, if the card was stolen, maybe they left something behind that can help us track them," Steve suggested.

"Well, I do have this fake card," Sharon retorted.

The three and the band stood around gazing at the messy room. "Oh my God, what if they are still in the house?" whispered Jocasta.

Sharon gasped. "You're right."

Steve stood with his index over his mouth as he tried to think fast. "I know who could help us."

Steve turned his head left and right, then marched over to where Stephanie Fernandez was standing. Stephanie was Richie's older sister; which made the obligation to be friends with her exist. She was short, with dark brown hair in a ponytail and brown eyes. Stephanie was wearing a black sweatshirt, a brown vest, blue jeans and black tennis shoes. She was gorging herself on peanut brittle as he saw her.

"Hey, Stephanie!", he called out her name.

Stephanie nearly choked on her brittle as her head swung around trying to locate Steve. When the two saw each other, Steve said, "Some thieves have been stealing AALL cards and we think they're here tonight."

"My coworkers at the [place name here] Police Department have been discussing this case", Stephanie said.

"You heard all about it?"

"You bet we did." Steve stood there and told Stephanie about Peter and his adventure with the thieves.

"My AALL card is missing!", shrieked Sharon. She waved up her fake substitute. "I tried to pay Bleach, but all I have is this." The tone of her voice softened. "Stephanie, I think they've stolen our AALL cards."

Steve thought for a while. "They couldn't have stolen everyone's card. When I paid the band with my card, it worked!"

"We have to think straight", said Stephanie. "When did you notice the card was missing?"

"It was just a few minutes ago", replied Sharon. "I was going to pay the band for playing as they packed up, and that's when I found this one. It doesn't even have my picture on it!"

"Where have you been keeping it?" Stephanie's index was up to her mouth.

"It was in my room. My room's upstairs. I kept it right next to my alarm clock."

"Did you see any of the thieves? Their faces have been on posters, you know."

"No one. I swear, I didn't see anyone I didn't know here." She looked around, panicked. "Steve?"

"I'm sure I didn't see them!", said Steve. "I was looking all around the downstairs rooms at all the partygoers, and I didn't see anyone who was over 25. Including the band members!"

"Well, that AALL card is clearly bogus", said Stephanie, "So I can say with certainty that your real one was nabbed." She inspected the ersatz card more closely. "It says the birthdate here is May 23, 2005. That's not your real birthday is it?"

"No", replied Sharon with an honest face, "Mine is June 21, 2010".

Stephanie and Sharon began exchanging information. After they had been discussing this for a while, Steve's head wandered. He looked into the kitchen until he saw Kevin. Was he seeing what he thought he was?

Steve approached Kevin. He was at the table in the kitchen, right next to the sapodilla juice and psilocybin mushrooms. Kevin had one of the heroin syringes, right inside a vein in his right arm.

Steve choked on his breath. So this was why Kevin had all those scars on his arms. Kevin was addicted to heroin!

Jocasta was right next to him rolling up some marijuana into a joint. She stuffed a little more pot into her joint, then wrapped the papers tightly like someone wringing a Kleenex. She giggled as she took her first puff.

"Narcotic alert! Narcotic alert!", Stephanie said, pantomiming the act of holding a loudspeaker up to her mouth. She was soon over at the drug table. "I will confiscate these and book 'em, Danno", she said, speaking like the cops in old movies made from back when drugs were illegal. She scooped some marijuana and Ecstasy into her arms.

Jocasta giggled at the parody. Sharon was soon over at the table to see what it was all about. "I had several mushrooms at that table. Now there's not a trace left", she said. "Who could eat all those mushrooms?"

"Maybe the AALL card thief has a taste for 'shrooms", Kevin said. Everybody sitting around the table laughed.

"Wait a minute", said Stephanie. "Maybe he's right, and one of the thieves has a taste for psilocybin."

"He'd have to be down here when I didn't see him", said Steve.

Jocasta pranced up to Steve with the joint in her left hand, her nerves apparently calmed by the drug. "Want some?"