The real ending came 10 years later.
It was on one of those too-few occasions when my friends and I were together as a group again. Drinking, reminiscing – the things that old friends that don't see enough of each other do. Someone brings the story up. Somebody else tells their version of it. We all laugh at Carl for twisting the knife: "Keep an eye out."
This story is a staple with us. It's been told in many ways for many years. But that night, Tony delivered the real ending. He wasn't mad at me, sure, but not because he was a great friend.
Tony knew what I intended to do with the screwdriver, he told us. He wasn't mad because he wanted to see what the screwdriver would look like coming straight at him. He just didn't realize it was so long.
See? I never said we were "normal."
