What does 'Wine' mean?

Wine

One weekend with Nette, one of Juanita’s daughters, I decided to go on a bus excursion to a cabaret party across the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in Lawnside, New Jersey. After thinking about it a little more, Nette said to me, “I didn't ask my mother if I could go.”

“I don't have to ask anyone to go anywhere!” I bragged. She decided to go to the cabaret party without her mother’s permission. But there would be consequences.

Outdoors at the cabaret, the night was warm, the atmosphere festive. Music pumped through two large speakers. I was captivated by the smell of pine trees, barbecue on the grill and the perfume from women wafting up my nose. There was plenty of food, wine, liquor and beer on hand.

I found a tree to lean on while I watched people dance and drink. I stood off absorbing the red lights glowing against the night and the silhouettes of women dancing in short skirts revealing legs rubbed down with Vaseline.

I desperately wanted to dance, but I couldn’t work up the courage to ask anyone. I drank a beer instead. And then another beer. I didn’t like the taste of beer, but I liked the way it made me feel. An exhilarating boldness was building in my head allowing me to muster up the nerve to dance. I zeroed in on a girl sitting alone. I took off my glasses and I walked over to her and took the plunge.

“Wanna dance?”

“Sure, why not.”

We danced to a slow record. I felt awkward at first, unsure of myself, but eventually I found my footing and followed her lead. We danced again. Afterward, I switched from drinking beer to wine, which was easier to get down. The wine was fruity but had a powerful kick that exploded in my head. I stumbled my way to a tree and rested my body against it. My stomach was queasy. My head was spinning. My legs began to buckle under me.

Nette walked over to me. “What’s wrong?”

“I feel sick,” I managed to get out. A fire was raging in my stomach.I steadied myself against the tree.

“I been watching you all night,” she said, laughing at me “You should know you can’t mix all that stuff together.”