It didn't take long to retrieve the refugees and remedy the parking situation, and before long, the party was again in full swing. It actually became livelier than it had been before the coming of the cop: the stereo was turned up louder than before; laughter and shouts were more frequent and more boisterous; the keg was drained at a faster pace than ever; and some people even started to dance, bucking and stomping as much as they could in the overcrowded place. As if trying to make up for the time lost during the party's interruption, everyone shifted into high gear.
Dave Heinrich gladly threw himself into the frivolity, joking and mingling and soaking up plenty of beer. With Darlene at his side, he swam from one knot of friends to the next, a grin on his face and a beer in his hand.
