The bar room was nearly void of customers, jukebox silent, the stink of stale cigarettes and booze heavy in the air. Katie did not notice. She settled at a table far away from the bar. A lonely Christmas Eve has driven Katie out into a cold night to seek relief from her pain.
The bartender, without a word, brought Katie her usual whiskey and water with a twist of lemon. Katie took a long slow draw from the glass and waited for the euphoria, temporal at best, but necessary for just this one night ~ lying to herself again.
Katie stared at the scarred tabletop as she considered her failed marriage and the source of her pain. “It takes two to tango…” Her Mom’s words echoed accusingly in her mind. Katie knew she was not faultless in the failure of her marriage. She also knew that Joe was not a good match. There were communication problems seriously magnified by alcohol. Both were functional alcoholics, which was really the only thing they had in common. Still, even while drinking, they were polar opposites. She was a happy, funny drunk while alcohol only served to feed his many grievances. It was a volatile mixture, but she loved Joe nonetheless.
As the alcohol began to take effect, Katie turned her attention to the other three silent customers. She knew each of the men by reputation ~ all having lost their families, jobs and reputations long ago. The fact that Katie was the only woman in the lounge did not escape her attention.
Suddenly Katie had an epiphany. She knew instantly that she was seeing her future if she did not change her ways. Without finishing her drink, she got up from her chair and walked out of the bar forever.
Darlene Cirinna
January 25, 2012
Darlene, if people would only look around them and see where the choices they are making will lead! Good story--good application. In fact, I may read it to a counseling client tonight. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI am honored. Please feel free to print it and use it in your work if you think it will help someone get sober.
DeleteThank you for your wonderful comment. I cherish this comment and you have made my day!
Epiphany...Life is what you choose. Love it.
ReplyDeleteExactly! I really good epiphany helps too! LOL
DeleteGood for Katie!! I hope she succeeded. Thank God when we are given such epiphanies!
ReplyDeleteI know for a fact she succeeded... And, with a lot of work, her marriage healed... Only the name was changed to protect the innocent. LOL
DeleteLeave it to you to find a very old piece of me. Wayyyyy back just out of high school, working full-time and going to school at night. I worked in a machine shop welding and so forth. A tough bunch. Great people with good hearts but a tough crowd - even a couple of tough gals.
DeleteEvery Friday night everyone headed to "the" bar and me being just out of school and ready to take on the world - I went along as one of the guys. Multiple beers later or drinks and I was just as happy as they were.
One Friday night - same thing. Nothing different. Then it was as if tim
e froze for a moment; the smoke in the bar stopped drifting, the juke box stopped blaring and there I was....staring into the long mirror behind the bar and seeing the sad faces behind the drunken smiles. I knew right then I could never go back with them on a Friday night or I would forever become them.
I didn't and I didn't.
One never knows when a "sign" will appear - it is up to us to recognize them. Great post Darlene!
I'm glad you had an epiphany too. That is no kind of life! I really appreciate that you shared that story with me. The character in my story is really me and this did happen just as I said. I am forever grateful for that one honestly raw moment. It was kind of like the ghost of Christmas Future was there showing me...
DeleteI gotta hand it to you Darlene, you can do it! Try as I may, I just can't write a coherent story that's so short. Hat's off to you!
ReplyDeleteHats off to you Darlene! You can do it! I envy your ability to create an entire story in so short of space. Good job.
ReplyDeleteI had to work at this piece to reduce it to meet the 300 word challenge. I like it well enough, but I like the longer version better.
DeleteThank you so much for the affirmation.