I drink to deal

A squeal to "The Last Entry" from the father's drunken view. He finds his problems at the bottom of every glass. When he starts to feel remorse, he just pours another drink.

"Today marks the one year anniversary of 14 year old suicide victim, Lisa Stromer. It is also the two year anniversary of her mother, Meredith Stromer's, suicide. Both victims took pills and both bodies seemed to have fresh bruises, which force police to believe that both women were beaten prior to their death. The father and husband, Ben Stromer, still has no comment until this day." The volume gets turned down. "Poor guy" says the bartender. "To think he lost his family the same way and one year apart. He must be hurting right now. Then again he might have beaten them if there was bruises on those girls. Then he should rot in hell." I don't look up and I don't say one word. I just nod my head. "Give me another drink Phil" I say. "Don t you think you had enough man? I mean anymore and your insides would be fully sterilized!" joked Phil. I gave Phil a hard stern look and when he didn't move I shouted "Another!". With a sigh and a shake of his head, Phil pulled up another glass, set it in front of me, and gave me a hard look as he poured my drink slowly. As I was about to pick up my drink, Phil grabbed it and said, "Keys man, after four drinks I have to take them." He held out his hand and after a few moments I knew he wasn't going to give up. So I reached in my pocket and I gave my keys to him, and as I did he handed me my drink.
"I tell you man, hearing that story on the news just now made me grateful that I sobered up real quick. If I would have lost my family like that, I would have committed suicide myself." All I could do was let out a loud snort which caused Phil to give me a shocked look. "What's your problem man? That drink getting to you?" asked Phil. I laugh again and say, "Let me ask you something. What's your story?" Phil gave me a confused look. "What do you mean?" Again I laugh and say "You know. You sobered up. What happened that you had to drink in the first place?" Phil looked at me, as if his story was written on my face. About three minutes passed before Phil grabbed a few washed cups, leaned back and started drying them. "All right I'll tell you. It was about six years ago. My wife and I just celebrated our eight year anniversary. Everything was fine until one day she wakes up and turns to me in bed and says "Phil, this isn't working, I'm just not happy. I'm sorry but I'm taking the kids and leaving". With that she packed her bags and just left. Took my son and daughter with her.
As months went by without hearing from them, I turn to my buddy Jack and we had a party all day and night, everyday. One day, after having a few cups of Jack in my system, I decided to go over to my kids school and surprise him. I watched as kids got out and run into parents open arms and jumped on the buses. I saw my son walking out and it was like seeing him for the first time after he was born. I called out to him and he turned. I waved and he just looked at me with disgust. That made me angry, so ran up to him. I tried to give him a hug but he pulled away, which made me even more mad. I grabbed his arm and he started to fight back. Tugging and kicking. I was getting angrier with each pull and hung on tighter. I had such a tight grip, that I heard a loud pop and saw a mix of emotions on my son's face in a matter of a second. First it was shock then pain then a loud scream came from his mouth. I didn't know what to do except run. I ran as fast as I could before anyone can see me. I left my son there in pain. I ran back to my apartment, which was about two miles away, and started packing a bag. I don't know why. I was just about to walk out my door when I heard aloud knock. "Police!" said the voice on the other side. I froze, I didn't have any where to hide.
They kicked down the door and came straight towards me. I didn't fight them, didn't plead for my life. I let them cuff me, walk me down the hall full of nosey neighbors, put me in the squad car and drive me down to the station. They questioned me for hours, wanting to know what were my intentions. If I was trying to kidnap my own child. I told them I just wanted to see my kid and they just chalked it up to another drunken father. I got 4 years for child endangerment, but got out in two for completing my AA meetings and for good behavior. I wrote my kids every day that i was away. I apologized, sent gifts, pictures, and never received one letter back. I got out and the first thing I did was go over to their house, which to anyone would be a stupid move. So I'm walking up the drive way with gifts for each of them. A big bouquet of roses for my wife, a big teddy bear for my daughter, and the biggest monster truck toy I could find for my boy. As I walked up the steps I heard laughter, sounded like it came from a man. I walk over to the big window that looks over the street and I see MY family sitting at the dinner table with some dude that looks like he belongs to a country club. My heart sank, I mean, that's suppose to be me in there. It wasn't until I saw my son hug him like he was the frather, that I grabbed one of those newspaper circular and a pen from my pocket and wrote I'm sorry -Daddy, in big letters and slipped it under the door. I left the gifts on the porch and walked away without looking back. A few months after my aunt died, and being that I had no other family, all her money and house went to me. I went and got my bartending licence and opened up this baby here. I know it's pretty ironic having an ex drunk open a bar, but this bar reminds me everyday that drinking cannot save you from your troubles. You know, I named this bar Jake's after my son. He inspires me to stay strong, my daughter too. Until this day, I haven't heard from them. I've seen them around the ave or at the mall and I just wonder what life would have been like if we were together. Then I convince myself that they are better off without me."
I don't say anything. I don't move. I just look at him with disbelief and I can't help but think about what a s****y man I am. I see a tear form in the corner of his eye and before it could roll down his face, he wipes it away and says "So what's your story man?" I look at him, trying to find the words. Trying to figure out a way to make the story change. But it doesn't change, no matter how many times I've changed it in my mind. I look at Phil and he has a patient look on his face. I take one last sip from my cup and take a deep breath. As if it was going to help me in anyway. I look at Phil with a sad look and say, "My name is Ben Stromer, and that story on the news was about my wife and little girl. I use to drink because I was bored with my life. But now I drink to deal with what my life has become." I look next to me and see a man passed out in his drink. I take his cup and lift it in the air. "To my wife, my daughter and your son. To drinking, even if it's just to deal." With that I drank the entire cup in one swig, set it down and asked for another.

Author's Note

Please ignore grammar and misspelled words. This is the final story of the father/daughter family. If you have any suggestions about how I can extend this saga, please let me know. Also the first story was written when I was in high school. So please excuse any name changes in the story. Please comment when finished