The foam party

I’m not sure I can write a happy story so I decided to first try funny. Here we go.1

For those among us who have never been to a foam party, let me enlighten you. A foam party is when a club floods the dance floor with bubble bath. It’s actually very cool, almost like being in a big bubble bath just minus the water. 2

Now the first thing about a foam part that you need to keep in mind is that the foam is pretty, fluffy and soft – but the floor remains hard. A difficult fact it took me about ten hard landing to learn.3

The second fact worth mentioning is that bubble bath is slippery - it is in essence soapy water.4

Thirdly, drunk people have a hard enough time staying upright in the best of conditions.5

Lastly, bubble bath brings out the child in drunk people. I don’t know why, but it does. Suddenly they are transformed into three year olds trying desperately to be the naughtiest child on the dance floor.6

So. one not so special Friday night my sister and I found ourselves at Capella’s, a club in our area. We had never been to a foam party before so we decided to join the festivities. There was one hitch to our plan - Danica, my sister was wearing a white dress, a fact that she seemed utterly oblivious to. So I decided, in the spirit of not going home, that I would not mention it. 7

A few drinks later we were not only drenched but well on our way to becoming completely pissed. There was something about the playfulness of the bubble bath - the usual airs and graces were completely gone. We were a group of children running around like insane people. It was so much fun! 8

Soon a few of my friends showed up and the party really started.9

Nathan and Greg were among those to arrive. At that point in my life, they were two of my most favourite people in the world. They were brothers but for reasons I never understood, they looked nothing like each other. Nathan and I met first and we dated for about a month (long story). Anyway, moving on swiftly, Nathan (reliable as he was) was the first to notice my sister’s now translucent dress. The two of them then proceeded to spend the rest of evening as Danica’s own personal bodyguards, ensuring that no one got too close. (I knew there was a reason I loved those guys.)10

Later in the evening I remembered why it was that I occasionally forgot why I loved them. Nathan and Greg had devised a plan. The plan worked as follows: Greg would get down behind Danica and Nathan would run right at her, stopping at the last minute. She of course would get a fright and step backward, trip over Greg and fall flat on her backside.11

I am happy to report that my sister, though drunk, still had a few functioning brain cells. When Nathan ran at her she did something they did not plan on. Instead of stepping backward she stepped sideways. Nathan got such a fright, I think he forgot to stop. He tripped over Greg and went sliding across the dance floor. Idiot!12

Me, I was dancing in the middle of the floor. I loved the feeling of dancing in a cloud. A little while later a handsome Italian joined me in my cloud. The only problem was, he didn’t speak English. (Eleven official languages and he didn’t even learn one!!) After a lot of hand gestures I figured out that his name was Miguel.13

Never one to let a little thing like language get in my way, I proceeded to teach him a few vital key words to survival in South Africa. Beer, party and bubbles was all I effective managed to teach him. Luckily he was not a complete idiot and had brought along his rather unattractive cousin to interpret for him. 14

I must admit that I much preferred not being able to understand what he was saying. That way I could pretend that he was a highly educated, well travelled international man of mystery and I couldn’t hear the translations over the loud music.15

I looked around and realised that I hadn’t seen my sister in a while. I found her with little effort on my part; she was, after all, the main attraction. Surrounded by men, she was still utterly unaware of the fact that her dress was completely see through. I was confident though that Nathan and Greg would take good care of her, so I returned to educating my Italian.16

Danica came over to inform us that her bra was irritating her, so she wanted me to stand in front of her while she took it off. I asked her why she was bothering because everyone could see everything anyway, to which she responded, “Huh?” I told her not to worry and stood in front of her - she probably couldn’t hear me over the music anyway.17

I spent the rest of the evening in my Italian’s arms, peaceful and content. I imagined us high above the world in a land of wonder. 18

My sister left at around three in the morning. Standing by the car, she couldn’t shake this feeling that she was forgetting something. Half way down the road it hit her, she had forgotten me. She raced back and ran up the stairs and when she got to the top, she noticed that her stamp had rubbed off. She started explaining to the bouncers that actually her stamp had rubbed off. One of them moved out of the way and said, ”Don’t worry madam, we can see you were inside,” How could she still be unaware of her see through dress I ask you with tears in my eyes, but she was.19

She finally found me in all the mayhem and lead me to the safety of the car. I never did say goodbye to my Italian, but I reasoned that since I had mainly imagined his perfection that the truth might be a total let down. 20

About two years later (not exaggerating), Nathan, Greg, Danica and myself were reminiscing about the night at the foam party. Suddenly Danica looked over at me, her face pale and her eyes large. Shocked, I ask her what the problem was. You will never guess what she said.21

She said, “I was wearing a white dress,”22

Well, rather late than never is what I always say.23