In 1969, I was too young to know very much about the Woodstock festival. I had heard a little bit about it after the fact, but didn't pay much attention to it. By the time the movie came out, I knew more about it; that Janis Joplin played and Jimi Hendrix played the Star Spangled Banner. Years later, the movie was playing at a local drive-in and a few friends and I tried to go see it but some of us were not 18 yet and they were checking ID. I never did get to see it until this year, the whole movie is available on youtube. And last August, with the 40th anniversary of the event, both The History Channel and Discovery Channel had specials on the event. They talked to many attendees including the couple on front of the Woodstock Album. They talked about why they went and how they felt at the time. Many attendees went without the permission of their parents. No one talked about what happened when they got home three days later. What did their mom say when they walked in the door? So here is a fictional account of what might have happened.

Brian stopped the car right before Kate's parent's driveway. He put the car in park and looked at her. "are you ready?"

Kate's parents had forbid her from going. Brians's mom wasn't too happy about it either. For Brian, it wasn't no big thing because it was just him and her. No dad to back her up telling him he couldn't go. So he just told his mom "I'm going." This was too big to miss so at 3am, Kate snuck out of the house and Brian was there waiting.

Now, Kate shook her head. "Not really. And I really don't want to walk up there alone. Could you walk up with me?"

Brian sighed He had not kidnaped her or even talked her into going, but her mother would certainly blame him because he had the ride. She would probably be teed off at him. He had no idea what to expect and therefore, had no idea what to say. Fortunatly, it was just after 3pm so he dad wouldn't be home. "I don't know what I can say or do, babe."

"just-just be there. Maybe say how you took care of me, made sure I was safe and all that."

"And that's going to overshadow the fact that I took you away for three days?"

"Brian!"

"OK, let's go." He put the car in drive and pulled up the driveway. As they were opening up their car doors, the front door of the house was pushed open and Mrs Hill came rushing out. "Katy? Kart?"

And right behind her was Kate's dad. "Is that son-of-a-bitch with her" He came charging out. "Get out of here you no good-"

"Dad, stop it. What are you doing home?"

"What am I doing home?" I knew you would be coming home today! I wanted to make damn sure I was here when you arrived."

Kate's mom walked up to her. "Oh my god, look at you. You-you're a mess! How could you? How could you do this to me?"

Meanwhile,her dad was moving toward Brian who was right near his car door. He could jump in if he had to. "you get out of here! and don't ever come back here again."

Kate was screaming, "Stop it dad! stop!" Kate's dad went on. "you and my daughter are through!"

Brian thought it was time to get in the car.

"You better get back in that car. I'll kick your ass you no good long haired bum!"

Brian put his car in reverse and was about to drive off. He wasn't prepared for her father being home. But he thought of Kate saying for him to just explain how he took care of her, and that was actually true. And now, by taking off, he would be abanding her. He stopped and put trhe car in park. Now, Kate's dad was yelling at her. "you are not going to see that man again. You two are through."

Kate yelled back. "You can't break us up! We're both 18."

"You are still my daughter and you are still living in my house."

Brian got out of the car and yelled out,"haaaaaaaaey!!!!"

Everyone went silent.

"Kate is alright! She needs a serious shower but she is OK. I made sure of that."

"I thought I told you to get outta here!"

"Listen man." Brian paused, thinking of what to say next. "I know what we did was heavy."

"What you did was wrong."

Kate said "dad, it wasn't just him. We both decided to go."

He quickly turned around. "I'll talk to you later about what you did."

Kate started walking toward her dad. "There was nothing wrong with what we did, dad. You're just teed off because I did something you didn't agree with. Me and Brian had an awsome time. It was the best three days of my life. And so many people. So many groovy people all gathered in one place. It was unreal."

Kate's mom walked right up up to her. "Well I'm glad it was the best three days of your life, Kate. Because it was the worst three days of my life.

Now kate went silent.

"You are my only child. Our only child. Without you, me and your dad are nothing."

"Mom, I didn't run away. And Brian didn't kidnap me."

"Anything could have happened. I didn't know what this Woodstock thing was. A bunch of out of control hippies getting together, for all I knew."

But it was nothing like that, mom. Everybody was mello. There were no fights, nobody getting into trouble. It really was three days of peace, love and music."

Brian said "but there is no possible way your mom and dad could have known that,babe. Even we didn't know it was going to be so together." With not being on the attack by Kate's father, Brian had cooled down a little, and was struck when Kate's mom said "without you, me and your dad are nothing." He was actually seeing their side. He hadn't seen himself sticking up for them, but he just had.

Kate looked like she had just been slapped in the face. "Brian, if you're taking their side jsut to-"

"No, I'm not taking their side. But I see their side. I told you in the car, to them, I took you away for three days. And it was the best three days of my life, too." He looked at her parents. "And I brought her back. And she's together."

"So what are you saying?"

Brian thought he could see a slight smirk on Mr Hill's face. But maybe it was just his imagination. He thought for a second on what to say to Kate. "I'm saying maybe we shouldn't have snuck out at 3am. I mean, we've been out here shouting at each other for the past few minutes about us going. Maybe we should have done this before we left."

"They would have stopped us. They would have stopped me."

"I don't know man, we were pretty determined."

Mr Hill said "no, she's right. I would have stopped her.

Brian shrugged. OK, maybe. Anyway, I've got to go." He had had enough of this confrontation. He had done his part. He had brought back Kate to his parents, walked up with her and argued with the both of them.

"Unless," said Mr Hill.

Brian stopped.

"unless you would have sold it to us."

"Sold it?"

"Yeah. been a man. Stood up to us like you did today and explain why this was so important to you and how you were going make sure Kate was OK." He shrugged. "Who knows?"

"Yeah, maybe." Brian hated to admit it, but this guy was making more and more sense. But there was nothing more for him to say to him today.

"Hey Brian." It was Mrs Hill. She had taken a few steps toward the house like she was done with the conversation. But apparently not. "How do you think your mother's going to react when she sees you?"

Brian smiled, thinking of that. He shrugged."I don't know Mrs Hill. I'm thinking when she sees me she'll be just as freaked out as you were."

"You wanna come in and get cleaned up? Kind of soften the blow?"

"Oh, I don't know. I-"

"Come on," she said, waving her hand toward the house. "You're not scared of my husband, are you?"

"He should be," said Mr. Hill. But it was not the same tone of voice when he had told him to get out here.

"And another thing. When's the last time you two had something to eat?"

That got a visible reaction from Kate. They had left Woodstock and drove straight home. Another mistake. "I gotta admit, I'm pretty damn hungry. "Now Mr Hill started walking toward the house. "Come on in then. You can call your mom and and tell her you're ok. Then, I want to hear all about this concert."