Boozer

Gabe has been able to avoid drinking for a while, however, he finds himself in a situation where he is tempted.

         He wanted to drink, and that’s no joke.  Tonight was mounting up to be a brutal night.  Gabe had been trying to stay sober, but it’s hard as hell when a lot of things piss him off. He can do a job of staying away from the drink if there are people around who’ve been hitting the bottle awhile…those drawn out jokes, offensive comments, slurred speech, that s**t’s the worst; when witness to that, he’s alright.

          Starting off is the problem.  When he’s just starting, none of that other crap has happened yet.  Gabe will get there, sure, but he has got time to get there.  He can be the cool guy for at least half the night.  People like him, honest, they like him drunk, until suddenly they don’t.  He over stayed his welcome after telling a really good joke.  It was, that build up might’ve needed some work, sure, but the punch line was golden.

          “I don’t care if your girlfriend's offended, she wouldn’t know funny if it came up and slapped her on the back, honestly!”
          “…that guy by the pong table shaking his head can grow a pair and learn to laugh.”   People got to thinking Gabe was a prick.   A real stay the f**k away, he’ll only make you mad, you’ll probably want to fight him, boozer. 

          Gabe was that guy, anyway. It might not happen. Those drinks look promising, four or five of them might be a slammin’ good time.  He’d stop after that.  Make his best attempt to, anyway. If he doesn’t, well, people make mistakes…you really wanna be one of those people who get peeved at others for their weaknesses?  That’s not right.  Only when the person is not working on it, right?

          That’s not Gabe. He works on it all the time.  Say it's Tuesday, around noon, he won’t even though he has before.  That’s progress! Or he had a friend who said, just last week, “hey man, you want a brew?”  And Gabe said, “No. I’m better off without it.”  Then he waited. He had to wait.  Gabe doesn’t truly believe he’s better off until he waits. That’s the truth.

          Tonight’s tough for him, because, as already mentioned, everyone’s  just starting out.  He’s watching them and wants in.  One girl’s already tripping over herself but she can’t hold down two drinks without trying to wrestle you and claim she can pin you, no problem, because her guy knows mixed martial arts.   Everyone else is doing well, 'though.  Wait, just hold on, he tells himself, you’re gonna see you’re making the right choice real soon.

          He remembers a time this girl says, “Hey, what’s going on?  Do you want to kiss me or not?”  It was out of nowhere, he hardly knew her!  Sober Gabe would’ve blown it.  Instead he was equipped with just the right amount and said, “I’ve been wanting to all night.”  That was a lie but who cared.  It sounded alright.  She smiled. He smiled, they kissed, what the hell, right.  Without that liquid courage, who knows, Gabe probably would've found his words after she walked off and started locking lips with some other a*****e.

          Gabe scanned the room.  The women tonight aren't hazy ideas, no, he’s not wearing his beer-goggles, they’re goddamn stunners! He might need some, just a little, to have a moment with them.  Gabe didn't want to be there like Gatsby, picking his words carefully, because they just know something's up.  It's hard work trying to keep up the smooth, cool as hell, saying all the right things nonsense without a little help.  Even Gatsby needed Nick.

          Once Gabe got a drink thrown on him.  The reason was one he immediately forgot.

“I’d rather you just hand it to me, I would have drank it, why’d you waste it? Ya dumb cooze!”

Gabe blinked several times,  rubbed at his eyes, licked his lips, and came to the decision having to start the clock over wasn't worth it...some time behind him was better than going back to day one. And he started to wait.

 

Reviews

[Meat of Dog]

I could relate to this story right out of the gate. Addiction is largely psychological, so the triggers that cause it (stress, emotions, ext.) are the reason it’s so hard to stop. I also like how you mentioned that seeing drunk people helps him stay sober. That’s an interesting and unique perspective, rather than it just causing him to want it more via exposure to it. People don’t realize what substance turns them into because they feel like a champ. I used to feel like the smoothest, coolest dude on earth when I was drunk, only to wake up and have everyone else tell me I was super mean and broke everything. What a reality check. This was a cool story, thanks for sharing!


Suggestions:

~ “to stay sober but it’s hard” Comma before ‘but’.
~ “girlfriends offended” Girlfriend’s.

Nitpicks:

~ “He wanted to drink, that’s no joke.” ‘And’ after the comma.

[C.M Grogan]

It is a reality check, you're right! I appreciate the grammar suggestions and made the changes. (Not my strongest area at times)... I'm glad you could relate to this story. I'd be lying if I said there weren't a time or two I thought I was Don Juan and discovered the next morning I'd been everyone but. Thanks for reading!

[Meat of Dog]

No problem! Yeah, I have a weird past with alcohol. My friend used to call it truth serum because it shows the true you, from the loss of inhibition. It does weird things to le brain for sure.

[A. Amos]

You portray a great picture of an alcoholic, Gabe seem like having a fight within him and the whole read was interesting. I like the way you use the reference of Gatsby and Nick, clever. Will return to read more of your work!

[C.M Grogan]

I am glad you enjoyed the story. I hoped Gabe's struggle would be convincing and am happy to know you thought it was. Thanks a lot for your kind words!

[A. Amos]

I never knew people could be addicted to alcohol...I always thought drugs are dangerous:) once I start meeting people it took me with a storm:). I like work which leaves a message for readers, niceto meet you buddy and welcome to WC. You're most welcome.