Dreaming of the Night: Diane Echelbarger's hallucinatory birthday bash
by Lisa McDavid

***********************************************************************

Lisa smiled at the barkeeps. It was a bright smile, one which had been
known to make strong men climb trees and jump overboard to get out of her
way. "Yes," she said reasonably, "but I'm not asking you for a single
Zombie Beachcomber. I said make me a double." 

Such was the strength of Lisa's personality -- especially when expressed
in a $100 bill -- that she got her wish. Then she got her second wish. 
After all, two doubles equal four Zombie Beachcombers, which is definitely
not the single Lacroix said she wasn't to have. <Hey, this is a dream. 
The rules of logic are different here.>

Alas, not even two double or four single Zombie Beachcombers could
persuade Lisa to release Will. She did, however, dance the limbo with him.
<Stop laughing, those of you who know me in person.  I *said* this was a
dream. :)>

Naturally others joined in, until all the vampire characters except Feliks
Twist were limboing. He sat chatting with a potted palm instead.  The
contest came down to Nick and Janette. Nick was about to try for a space
none of the mortals could even see, when suddenly Natalie appeared on the
bar. <No, I didn't ask permission. Dreaming subconsciouses don't. :)>

"Nick! No!!! You couldn't do it without the vampire?" Natalie yelled. 
Lisa McDavid sidled up to the bar, said something to her, and handed her a
glass. Natalie drained it. Then, grinning broadly, she yodelled, "But can
you do it with? Come on, Nickie, let's have some fun!" 

The band broke into the traditional music as Nat did an expert bump, grind
and toss of her lab coat into a corner. She was wearing the black lace
teddy from Only the Lonely under it. 

Janette arrived at the bar with vampiric speed and pulled Nat off it. "A
little drunk, are we?" Janette's glare at Lisa bounced off only because
Lisa was used to staring matches with LaCroix. 

Nat smiled beatifically. "You bet your ass and raise you one boob I am.
Come on, everybody, it's just a dream -- let's party." 

And that is how Natalie, Janette and Lisa came to be leading a conga line
around the bar. Natalie and Janette sandwiched Nick between them, Lisa
grabbed onto LaCroix and the fun began. Even Fred the Eagle, who had
polished off the last finger of Lisa's drink, flew unsteadily over head,
screeching, as the conga line kicked its way toward the door and into
<whatever the name of the street the Raven's on is -- you expect memory in
a dream?>