17. Majority

On June 28, 1957 I decided to celebrate my 21st birthday. When I walked into the Pioneer Bar and asked for a beer the bar— tender immediately asked for my birth card. He thought I was a twelve year old boy coming in to deliver a message to someone. When I showed him the card I tried to look worldly, like I belonged in these bars. I also tried to look arrogant and offended. After all, I was now the age of manhood in the white man's society. When he read the card the bartender smiled broadly and turned to the other men sitting in the bar and said, "This guy is really 21!" I had my beer alone away from the other men and ordered two more. The effects of this alcohol were fantastic and I felt that I had really come of age in Western Civilization. When I ordered the third beer I told the bartender. "My mother told me not to drink, but I can drink because I'm 21. Besides, she's far, far away from here." Then I decided to look for Swede Nelson. It was late afternoon and I knew I could find him at Ernie‘s Bar. During my seventh and eighth graded he was Scout Master and I wanted to drink with him and impress him with my new manhood. I found him sitting at Ernie's Bar and proudly sat next to him. "Hey. Swede, let me shake your hand. The man at Pioneer Bar told me I can drink." Then he became the first man to ever buy me a drink. I was really enjoying myself. The juke box with its deep bass was playing loud and Jacob Snowball was dancing in the aisle. Then I decided to go to the fancy night club outside the city limits.’ It had an Indian sounding name, the Kiksahoudie Club, I believe. The place was ornate and plush with even padded elbow rests. Like wow. The white man really treats me with dignity and opulence when I feel like drinking. I must belong here. Then I wake up in jail. What happened to the happy crowd I was just with? And the music? And the steak I was eating? The steak was the most wonderful thing I had ever eaten. How did I get behind these metal bars? These questions confused me no end but I was sure I didn‘t belong in jail because I was incapable of hurting anyone. I was let out of jail but Police Chief Doucette warned me not to be drunk in public again. He was a kindly older man and I thanked him for letting me out of jail. I decided to forget this incident like it was never going to happen again.