It’s Hard Being Young, Wealthy, and Good Looking
David M. Abercrombie
March 20, 2003
History, Theory, and Practice of Expository Writing
Introduction
Near the Emory Village in Decatur live three young, wealthy, attractive
men. Hayes Moody is a 24-year-old man who grew up in Decatur. He is a
college graduate with his degree in history from the College of Charleston. He
recently nailed down a steady job with the Coke-A-Cola Company in the
advertising department. Hayes father buys, renovates, and rents houses.
Hayes mother is an artist. Hayes has one brother, Miles, who lives in Atlanta
and works as an insurance investigator. Hayes is single and looking. Hayes
has always been well off and his father routinely deposits funds into Hayes
checking account when the balance gets low.
Kevin Pupuis is a 25-year-old day trader with an investment firm in
Atlanta. Kevin was born in New York, attended College of Charleston, receiving
a Business Degree, and moved to Atlanta while pursuing work. Kevin is in a
steady relationship. While in college Kevin was on an athletic scholarship for
baseball, he was being scouted by professional scouts until he blew out his
shoulder.
Michael Lee is a 24-year-old product rep with Muzuno, a sporting goods
firm with an office in Cumming. Mike grew up in Decatur near the Veterans
Administration Hospital with his sister and parents. A few years ago, Mike’s
parents spit up and his father came out of the closet. Mike’s sister is in the
Army and attending Georgia College and State University. Michael graduated
from Western Carolina University and moved back to the Atlanta area for work.
Michael is seriously dating a young lady and contemplating marriage. Of the
three Michael is the closest to a self made man, he did internships with the
Atlanta Braves and Carolina Panthers before working for Muzuno.
These three folks spend most of their time drinking, parting, and playing
PlayStation2 football. Their world is for the most part separate and walled off
from the world of real people. Poor and neglected portions of our society are
not their concern, for them life is simple and easy. In short they are the kings
of tomorrow, those who have been groomed for success and fortune.
Background
The argument can be made, and made well, that these type people, rich,
young, and oblivious can’t teach us anything. I say they can. They can teach
us the future. President Bush, Mr. Al Gore, they both grew up in the same
environment as these young men. Our future leaders will probably come from
the same stock. A look at how these people grow and think is a way for us to
look at how our future leaders learn and grow.
Methodology
To follow and get an insight on these young men I all but lived with
them. I stayed at their house, I went to parties, and hung out with them. It
should be said that Hayes is a good friend of mine, I hang out with these guys
on a regular basis. I am close to both he and Michael. I tried to not color my
representation of these folks even though I am their friend. By staying with
these people I believe I got a better understanding of their day to day lives.
Discoveries
I learned that money, privilege, and time are deadly combinations.
Hayes, Michael, and Kevin, especially Hayes are invincible. They find
themselves partying and slacking and still on top of the world. I discovered
that when consequences are not an issue then actions no longer are measured
and thought out.
Conclusion
We all must play the hand that is dealt us. We can’t blam the homeless
man for playing his hand and we can’t blame the rich man for playing his. I
spent six days with Hayes, Michael, and Kevin. They are all playing their
hands. And if I was in their situation I’m not sure if I would be all that
different. I drank, talked, and played with these guys, for all their flaws, pride,
prestige and stupidity they are good people.
David M. Abercrombie
March 11, 2003
English
Field Notes
Subject Introduction:
Hayes Moody
is a 24-year-old young man who grew up in Decatur and still
lives there today. He is a college graduate with a major in history from the
College of Charleston. He recently nailed down a steady job with the Coke-ACola Company in the advertising department. Hayes father buys, renovates,
and rents houses. Hayes mother is an artist. Hayes has one brother, Miles,
who lives in Atlanta and works as an insurance investigator. Hayes is single
and looking. Hayes has always been well off and his father routinely deposits
funds into Hayes checking account when the balance gets low.
Kevin Pupuis
is a 25-year-old day trader with an investment firm in
Atlanta. Kevin was born in New York, attended College of Charleston, receiving
a Business Degree, and moved to Atlanta. Kevin is in a steady relationship.
While in college Kevin was on an athletic scholarship for baseball, he was being
scouted by professional scouts until he blew out his shoulder.
Michael Lee
is a 24-year-old product rep with Muzuno, a sporting goods
firm with an office in Cumming. Mike grew up in Decatur near the Veterans
Administration Hospital with his sister and parents. A few years ago, Mike’s
parents spit up and his father came out of the closet. Mike’s sister is in the
Army and attending Georgia College and State University. Michael graduated
from Western Carolina University and moved back to the Atlanta area for work.
Michael is seriously dating a young lady and contemplating marriage. Of the
three Michael is the closest to a self made man, he did internships with the
Atlanta Braves and Carolina Panthers before working for Muzuno.
Day One
2/28/2003
I arrived at Hayes, Michael, and Kevin’s house about 6:00pm. Kevin was
just waking up. He goes in to work at 4 and gets off at 1, so he just goes back
to the house and rests. Hayes called be and said he was running late because
of traffic but he’d be there soon. Michael would be home shortly. I cracked
open a beer and sat down by the TV to wait.
Hayes got to the house around 7. Michael was already there and we
decided to play PlayStation2 NCAA Football I was leading 23-17 when Hayes
got home. Hayes jumped in the shower followed by Michael and we went to
Moe’s and Joe’s in the Highlands. Moe’s and Joe’s is one of the oldest bar’s in
the Highland’s, its signature beer is Pabst Blue Ribbon. It sits almost on the
corner of North Highland and Virginia. As you walk into the bar a bar runs
almost the entire length of the right side of the building, it’s one of those old
style dark wood thick, heavy bars. About 30 beer stools line the bar, the rest of
Moe’s is filled with 7 booths on the left and tables down the middle. Also a new
jukebox, one of those connected to the net so any number of songs can be
picked. We started to tie one on for the long haul, but we heard about a party
over at Halo. So Hayes, Michael, and I finished the pitchers we were working
on and found our way to the car. We were traveling in Hayes car tonight, a late
80’s Jeep with more problems than a French victory plan, but it was as reliable
as a French surrender. So, we drove down to Halo, and by this time it was 10
and the crowd was just starting to get in to it. We sat around a little taking in
the scenery and vibe putting a nipple on our beers. Halo is a trendy bar/club.
It is built in between a hotel and a parking deck, and the bar is just fit into the
space, in the right corner of the bar a set of cement stair runs up in to the
ceiling. The bar at Halo isn’t that big it is more one of those bars that folks go
to so that they can look good and have people look at them looking beautiful.
After about an hour at Halo we decided to hit the road. We went up to
Northside and I-75 to the Georgia Tech Waffle House. The GT Waffle House is
just a normal Waffle House decorated in Old Gold and Blue, some of the
Georgia Tech Colors. We got some nice filling sustenance and felt much less
drunk. Then we walked across the parking lot to the Diamond Club, the strip
club that use to be the Mousetrap. The Diamond Club is a windowless stacked
stone structure. For a strip club it actually looks almost classy. As you walk
in the bouncer stands in the doorway, the bar is directly behind him. It’s a
short bar with just enough room for 15 folks. On the left side of the building is
the private rooms and one of the minor stages. On the right is the main stage
and that’s about it. It was 1:30 and the place was teaming with people. We
hung around there, Michael sweet-talked the bar tender in to some free and
reduced drinks, we tipped the girls and had our fun. Then at 4 we said our
good byes and left.
We headed back to the house and sat around for a while longer until one
by one we each dosed off to sleep. I slept on the couch, which surprisingly was
not too uncomfortable.
Day Two
3/1/03
Hayes had to umpire a youth baseball game Saturday morning at noon.
Hayes makes some extra money on the side by umpiring games, it is good
money to be had if you know the rule book and he does. Baseball is a passion
shared by Kevin, Michael, Hayes and myself.
Hayes shook me awake at 11 and asked me to drive him out to the ball
field, so I did. We took my truck. The game went well, I was told, I slept
through it. We headed back to the house and when we got their Kevin and
Michael were arguing. That is apparently not an unusual happening. The
problem was that Kevin refuses to clean dishes. Kevin is convinced that if all
the dishes in the sink aren’t his then he doesn’t have to clean. It goes so far as
to after Kevin cooks, and piles the sink high with pots, pans, utensils, and
dishes if Hayes or Michael puts a cup in the sink Kevin wont clean, cause he
says they added to the mess. Also Kevin was going to be late by a week on the
rent, which isn’t really a problem cause the house is owned by an old family
friend of the Moodys. However, Kevin is late a lot, and he has the money to
pay. It is just more convenient for Kevin to wait a week. So the argument
started to rage, I’ve seen this before and I didn’t need to get drawn in to an
argument of this magnitude. After all three guys who haven’t really ever tasted
the hardships of life take stuff like dishes, and unimportant stalled rent very
seriously. I grabbed my hat and said good-bye. Hayes asked if I was coming
over for the race tomorrow I said yes.
Day Three
3/2/03
The race was in Las Vegas. Vegas is a rather boring track, it is classified
as a flat track. Now it isn’t flat, but it isn’t banked as much as places like
Atlanta, Charlotte, or Texas. Because of the time difference it didn’t start until
2 so I finally got over to Hayes house at 1:30. On the way I grabbed 2 12 packs
of Coors Light. I got Coors Light cause of Sterling Marlin; he drives the Coors
Light Dodge. I also will drink Miller Lite, because Rusty Wallace is now in a
Dodge. But during a race I wont drink Bud, Dale Earnhardt Jr. drives that car
and I don’t like him. But while I’m out I will drink Bud Light cause Tim
McGraw endorses that product. We sat down and started watching the race, it
was just the two of us cause Michael was with his girlfriend and Kevin was
with some other of his friends. Hayes and I sat in mostly silence as we are apt
to do, drinking beer and watching the race. With about 100 laps left we ran to
the store and got 2 6 packs and ran home. Matt Kenseth finally won. We
stumbled over to the PlayStation2 ordered a pizza and played football for about
3 hours. I got up said good-bye around 11. It didn’t do much good Hayes was
passed out in the chair beside me.
Day Four
3/5/03
Trivia day. Hayes and I, along with a good many of our friends get
together in different places on Wednesdays to play trivia. This week we played
out in Douglasville at the Taco-Mac. Taco Mac in Douglasville is a sports bar.
A big, great sports bar. Jerseys, car hoods, helmets, hats, autographs,
baseballs, footballs TV screens, you name it they got. Even an upstairs, that’s
an over 21 pool hall. Right next door is a dance club that could be in Atlanta,
black lights, good dance floor but it is more likely to be playing 80’s rock and
country than hip hop. Trivia starts at 9, I got there at 8 to go ahead and get a
table and eat. The wings are real good. Hayes showed up around 8:45 and the
rest of the crew, about 10 people, rolled in at a little after 9. We went through
beer like it was water but it seems in large groups that almost always happens.
At the end of the night the 13 of us knocked down 30 pitchers of beer
We didn’t play very well which I’m not sure if that can be explained by
the beer or such a large group. Michael got to Taco-Mac about 10:30, Kevin
showed about 11. We walked next door to a dance club called Club-Mac. We
danced, drank, and chilled until it closed up about 2:30.
I invited Hayes and everybody to just come and crash at my house. But
it turns out that Michael’s girlfriend was acting DD so we drove out to my
house, dropped off the cars and they headed off.
Day Five
3/7/03
I got a call at work and it was Kevin. One of Kevin’s friends was going to
have a house party and he told me where it was and when to get there. Hayes
called about an hour later, he asked if I would drive Michael’s car and be DD. I
said I would, and so the plans were set. The party was in Lawrenceville, I got
to Hayes house at 7, we proceeded to criss-cross Atlanta pilling folks into
Michael’s Denali. Michael’s Denali is white with some odd looking rims. And
as I found out that night Denali’s fit 12 folks comfortably. After I think we
picked up half of Atlanta, we headed up I-85 to Lawrenceville. We finally got to
a house that looked as if Bush heard it had oil and sent in the Army. This
place was a wreck. At the party, I stood on the porch and drank coffee with the
rest of the DD’s while what sounded like a great party raged behind me. The
police showed up 3 times to tell us to turn it down, clean it up, and finally shut
it down. One reason the DD’s were out on the porch was so that when officers
showed up the few sober folks could do the talking. So at 5 I made my way
through the crowd picking up the folks I remembered rode with us. Our trip
back was much less crowded than our trip in. Over half our group had either
gone home with other folks or had decided to spend the night at the house
where the party was. That was fine with me, the less drunk people in the car
the better I say. So I dropped off everybody and finally returned to Hayes
house as the sun crept over the skyline of Atlanta. I was dead tired and
crawled onto the couch and passed out.
Day Six
3/9/03
Hayes, Michael, Kevin and I watch the race. We were going to go down to
the race but couldn’t grab any free tickets. So, we held up in the house and
watched the race. Kevin and Michael don’t know a lot about racing so unlike
when just Hayes and I watch the race this time it was filled with chatter, Hayes
and I explained what was going on and almost just kept a running
commentary. We had gone ahead and gotten a keg for the race. Miles brought
the keg over. About half way through the race, Michael’s girlfriend came over
joined by mine. By the time the race and post game show were over, we were
pretty well tanked. We set up a PlayStation2 football tournament and partied
well into the night.