“There.” She kissed him. “Done.”
They walked arm in arm toward the front door, edging past one of her parents’ cars parked in the driveway. Lewis noticed a bumper sticker on the rear that read “Democrats for the Right to Life”, which he recognized as a left-wing anti-abortion group. He realized he didn’t know much about her parents’ politics besides what she had told him about their stance on video games.
Lewis rang the bell and turned to Jenna. She looked tense. “Hey, relax,” he said, massaging her shoulder. “Just remember, after we get through this the rest of the night will be more fun.”
He kissed her on the cheek and turned back to the door. Their mutual friends had a surprise party planned for her back at her apartment. Lewis had done his best to keep it under wraps, but he had a feeling she’d already figured it out or at least expected something.
His phone vibrated in his pocket and he pulled it out. Jake Miller was calling him. That was strange. What does he want at 8PM on a Sunday?
Suddenly the door opened. Lewis swiftly declined the call and slid the phone back into his pocket. He could talk to Miller later.
Before him stood a man and a woman in their late middle ages. Lance Bateman was tall, tanned, and fit, with jet black hair that had turned gray at the sides. Not bad for someone in his early sixties, but Lewis figured it was dyed. His wife Patricia stood beside him about a foot shorter and her skin slightly paler. Her brown hair – certainly dyed – was cut to her shoulders. Lance wore a collared shirt and chinos, Patricia an expensive wool jacket over a white blouse and skirt. They each had warm smiles on their faces.
Lance shook Lewis’s hand while Patricia hugged her daughter. “Happy birthday, baby,” he heard her say as Lance gave him a firm grip.
“Desmond, how have you been?”
“Very well, Mr. Bateman.”
“Oh please, call me Lance! Come on in.”
He stepped inside, then felt a tugging on his arm. It was Patricia Bateman. “Desmond, you have to let me say hello!” She gave him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. “How have you been?”
“Wonderful, Mrs.–”
“Oh good, good.” She began leading them after her husband. Lewis looked at Jenna and she rolled her eyes. He nearly chuckled to himself.
They turned right and walked out into a large open space with a professionally decorated living room to the left and an open kitchen to the right. Fine art adorned the walls while flowers and framed photographs were positioned on various tables throughout the room. Lewis saw a portrait from ten years ago, a smiling 16-year-old Jenna sitting next to her younger brother James. Lewis had never met him, but Jenna had mentioned he was off at Duke playing tennis.
Directly ahead was a gigantic window that stretched the entire length of the area, interrupted only by a sliding glass door. It provided a full view of the back patio, swimming pool, and the L.A. skyline beyond. In front of the window stood a sleek, glass table that had been set for four.
Lance was already there, gesturing for them to take a seat. “The view’s really something, isn’t it?”
Lewis took it all in and nodded. “It’s stunning,” was all he could think to say.
“That’s what sold us on this place,” Lance said, sitting down. “We moved in just before Jenna began kindergarten.”
Lewis took a seat across from Lance, his girlfriend to his right. Soft jazz played from unseen speakers. Red wine had been poured, and a bottle of cabernet sauvignon sat on the table next to a bright green gift bag.
“This is for you, sweetie,” Patricia said, handing it across the table to Jenna.
“Thanks, mom.” She pulled a video game case out of the bag. It was the latest Mario Party. “Oh, how sweet,” she managed to say convincingly. He wondered if her parents realized she didn’t own a Nintendo Switch.
“Well,” Patricia said, “we just figured you might enjoy something fun and light, maybe as a break from all the shooter stuff you usually play.”
She laughed. Lance laughed along with her.
“It’s very thoughtful of you,” Jenna said, putting it down.
Everyone raised their glasses in a toast to her birthday, then they each took a sip.
“Oh, congratulations by the way on your latest win,” Lance added, lowering his glass. “What do they call it again… a cyber-sports championship?”
“E-sports,” she corrected.
“Right, right!” Lance said, giving himself a light smack on the head. “I keep forgetting.” He turned to Lewis and chuckled. “You see, the rest of our family plays real sports.”
Jenna wasn’t amused. Lewis managed a smile and took a big sip of wine. He figured he was going to need it.
Patricia turned toward him too. “Desmond darling, has Jenna scared you off with all her crazy video games yet?”
He put the glass down and forced a laugh. “No… at least, not yet.” He winked at his girlfriend and she rolled her eyes.
Patricia nodded. “Do you play a lot of games?”
“I used to,” he replied. “Back when I was a kid and up through high school. Once I got to college, I just didn’t have much time for them anymore.”
“What kind did you play?” Lance asked. “I know Jenna is really big into the, uh… first-person shooters.”
“Battlefield, Tomb Raider, Assassin’s Creed… A bunch of the popular ones back in the day,” Lewis said.
Lance chuckled. “I’m sure Jenna has mentioned a bunch of my rants about violence in video games…”
Lewis tried to keep it light. “I think she joked about it once or twice.”
Lance nodded. He sipped his wine, then set it down again as a big smile came to his face. “So Desmond, if you don’t mind me asking… what’s your opinion on it?”
“C’mon, Dad,” Jenna protested.
Lewis shrugged and gave an honest answer. “I mean, I don’t really mind it, but I think it can get a bit excessive at times. I’ve never liked gore just for gore’s sake.”
“Exactly!” Lance said. “It’s unnecessary, is what it really is.”
“I think it’s a lack of creativity,” Patricia chimed in. “I think it’s much harder to say more by showing less.”
“Can we not get into this again?” Jenna sighed, putting a hand to her forehead.
“Come on, we’ll keep it peaceful. It’s an intellectually stimulating discussion!” Lance said, gesturing around the table to all of them.
“It’s my birthday,” she groaned.
“Then we’ll keep it brief,” he promised, then turned to Lewis. “I couldn’t agree more with you, Desmond. It’s just excessive and overwrought. There’s so much blood and gore in all media today, and it just gets a pass because we’ve become desensitized to it. But video games are the ones that disturb me the most because the player actually participates in the violence – even if it’s simulated!”
“It rewards people’s bloodlust is what it does,” Patricia added, after another sip.
“How many times do I have to say this? If people can’t tell the difference between a video game and reality, then they already have serious issues. Besides, those games help people let off steam,” Jenna countered.
“Maybe,” Lance continued, “but teaching people – especially children and teenagers – that any form of violent release is a good way to cope with their emotions will perpetuate dangerous thoughts. Thoughts that one day might lead them to snap and–”
“Oh, for Christ’s sake,” she interjected. “You’re not still on the whole ‘video games make murderers’ thing, are you? Because that shit is so 90s.”