Double Rainbow

"I remember being shinier" Nathan said as he looked at the photo projected on the wall.

"This is the gayest photo of all time" Nick said. "Seriously dude, we can't show this one to our parents!"

"I did" I said. "I showed it to my mom"

"Seriously????" Nathan asked.

I looked at the photo. In it Nick, Nathan and I were shirtless having just hiked down to Phantom Ranch in the Grand Canyon. It had been hot - over a hundred - and we'd hiked through cloudbursts. Now the sun was setting and our skin glowed in the soft sunlight. Our hair was damp and hastily pushed out of our eyes with sweaty hands. But best of all, behind us a double rainbow lit up the sky like two rainbow flags.

"Yeah. Mom said we looked like an advert for 1-900-dial-men."

"Your mom," Nick snorted, "she's cool!"

Memory...

Copper...yeah. Copper. Not cooper - 'cause that would be a barrel - big and round. Copper.

I tried to write it down but all I got was a scrawl.

Copper. Yeah. I can remember that. Copper Pipe.

I went out to the garage.

Orange. sometimes green. That's the color of.....of....one of those long narrow pipes made of.....

I looked at the car. It was dusty

..But Trusty!

the word sprang into my mind and I smiled feeling (finally) familiar to myself.

I tried the car door but it wouldn't open. I looked at the garage wall and a button glowed brightly. I pushed it and the big garage door opened.

Orange...Oranges...Oranges and... Olives!!

I walked around the car and the keys fell from my hand to the floor. I examined the key fob. More buttons. I pushed one and the car beeped.

"Hi!!!" I breathed..."Oh, Hi!!"

I opened the unlocked car door and slid behind the wheel.

Olives and....Vodka!!

I wrinkled my nose. I don't like vodka. Maybe I'm having a party. I'll need wine for the party, too.

The keys grew warm in my hand. Some motions, like the ones you've practiced your whole adult life are in grained in you - like breathing. I knew what to do with the keys and the car started.

Wine and Vodka.

Wine and Vodka.

Where do I get that? I thought I was going to the hardware store.....