It was Friday night. Clark could hear the music off in the distance. The sound of partiers singing the intro to the latest Funkadelic song filled the night air. It had been a long and busy week. Clark had three tests and two projects that had been due. Mid-terms. A pain in the, (fill in the blank). He had done pretty well in his classes though. He sure did study enough for them. As they, (Clark and some of the fellas), headed down the stairs toward the party, they knew it was going to be crowded. The place wasn’t really that big, and everyone was going to be there tonight. The Shelter. That’s what they called it. I don’t think anyone knew the real name. Everyone just called it The Shelter. It was a red, one story building about the size of a basketball court. That was where the Black Greek organizations, and the Black Student Union held their parties. Every Friday and Saturday night, someone was giving the party.
Every once in a while the party would be in the Student Union, or one of the halls on campus. These events were slightly more dressy. Clark might break out a pair of designer jeans and a nice shirt. The Shelter though, was come any way you want. Some dressed up a little, but a lot, including Clark, didn’t. Jeans, tennis shoes, and a mesh shirt was his usual Shelter outfit. Sometimes when it was a little cooler, he might even wear a hoodie with the sleeves cut short.
Now Clark didn’t go to the Shelter every week. He usually went, maybe twice a month. Don’t want it to get old. Besides, there were other things to do, and other people to hang out with on the weekends. It was funny though. Sometimes when he went, it seemed like he knew everyone there. Other times though, it would seem like he was on a totally different campus, because he wouldn’t know anyone. It was always the most fun when a lot of his friends were there.
They walked up the steps to the Shelter. Sissy was at the table to take their seventy-five cents. As they walked through the door, the music of course was bumping. On this particular night, the Deltas were giving the party. Regina grabbed Clark’s hand and pulled him out onto the crowded dance floor, giving him a big smile. “More Bounce To The Ounce” was playing. You could feel the vibrations of the music on the wood floor. Everyone was shouting out their hometown affiliations, so it was really loud.
Clark was glad that Regina and Juanda weren’t mad at him anymore. They were two close friends of his, and they had been pledges on the Deltas latest pledge line. The previous month they had their Neophyte, where they were, after having completed their pledge requirements, now presented as members of the sorority. All that week they kept telling Clark to make sure he came that Saturday, and Clark assured them that he would.
There was always a big turnout for a Neophyte. Well Saturday arrived, and what-had-happened was, Clark, and some of the fellas were eating lunch. There was his roommate, Revie, Gary, Rob-Dog, Bird, Todd, Bill, Woody, and of course, Clark. Over lunch they started talking trash about who was the best basketball player. Some one said, “Well, let’s take it to the court.” So after lunch, off to the multipurpose building they went to play. Now they didn’t plan on playing too long because all of them planned on going to the Neophyte that evening. They ended up playing all afternoon.
Clark was tired. At this point he still planned to go to the Neophyte, but now the consensus had dropped to about 50% with the rest of the fellas. Everyone ended up going to Clark and Revie’s room. The movie, “Up In Smoke” with Cheech and Chong was showing on the Movie Channel. Somebody suggested that they order some pizzas, so they all pitched in their money, and ordered the pizzas. So there they were, eating pizza and watching, “Up In Smoke.” Then after that, The Warriors” was showing. None of them made it to the Neophyte that night.
The next day was Sunday, and after going to church with his usual church crew, Clark went to eat dinner in the dorm dining room. Donnie was there, and when he saw Clark, he started laughing. “Man, are you in trouble.” He said. “There are two ladies that are mad at you.” Clark groaned. He knew he was really going to have to beg for Regina and Juanda’s forgiveness. He went to their room, and of course, they let him have it. After they expressed their anger to him, they then excitedly told him about the previous night’s festivities.
What made the Shelter fun, was that it was so simple. A building with a dance floor, a DJ, or a group of DJs, and a bunch of students who wanted to have a good time. No drama. There was no food or drink. If you wanted something, you’d have to sneak it in on your own. Clark thought about a song that had come out the previous year by the group, G.Q. The name of the song was “Disco Night.” The part of the song he was thinking of went like this, “The feeling’s right and the music’s tight on the disco nights.” Well as far as Clark was concerned, that described the Shelter. The feeling was right, and the music was tight on a Shelter Night. ‘Nuff said.