By the time the meal was done Carl had downed five beers and was getting a little tipsy. He and Carl Jr. had participated little in the later conversation. Finally he said, “We got to be getting home.”

Janice asked, “Why?”

“Lakers game.”

Diane looked over. “Aren’t you going to do the steps at the mall with me? You aren’t afraid you can’t do it, are you?”

“Is that a big thing?”

“Well. If you think you can’t beat me, fine. I think the word is either concede or forfeit.”

Carl looked over at Jr. “I guess we have to miss the first quarter of the game to show these girls who is the best. Where are those steps?”

“The mall is about ten blocks down the street. It has a balcony area with three flights of steps. We put on the immobilizers and packs and do them till only one person is left.”

“This will not take long Let’s do it.” It was the half drunk Carl.

“The place I wanted to take Janice to dance is in the mall. We will do that. Give me a call on my cell when it is time to leave.”

Denise and Carol slid out of the seat. They both had on their pegs. Carl slid out, pulled out his keys and said, “Come on women. We need to get moving.” They started for the parking lot. He opened the van and was going to get into the driver’s seat.

Carol protested. “You are too drunk to drive.”

“Look. I have been driving with three drinks before.”

“You had five beers. You can’t possibly be fit to drive. Do you want to kill someone?”

“I only had three.”

“Even if you had only three you are still too drunk to drive. Do you want me to go back in and get the bill to show you that you had five?”

“No. But she hasn’t driven since the accident. She nearly got herself and our daughter killed at one time.”

“And she was sober, the guy who hit her was drunk and on her side of the road. You seem to ignore the important things.”

“Look. Everyone blames everything on the drunk driver.”

“A drunk driver took your wife’s left leg and your daughter’s left leg and you are excusing him and blaming the accident on your wife. I didn’t understand it in there. I do now. You drive drunk hence driving drunk is fine. No problem. I understand it because I did it when I was young and stupid. Well, if you get behind that wheel I will call 911. I will report a drunk driver. I will give them the license number and where you are headed. Look down at my leg, the right one. A drunk driver did that to me.”