Last Straw
As he gathered his coat and things and started walking away, he knew that he should have realized it earlier. He could have done something to soften the blow, perhaps. Or controlled his feelings so it would not have led to this demeaning dismissal. He had his pride to protect, didn't he?
Why did he let it come to this desperate end? Why, oh why did he fail to see the signs? It wasn't that they were lacking..He should have noticed when his friends started drifting away, shaking their heads at him in pity and disbelief. Or when her looks of eagerness and invitation started to turn into disgust and disapproval. Or when he first realized that the lines between reality and fantasy had started to blur. Definitely when he saw her talking to the strong, handsome man in the black T-shirt and the comforting arm around her shoulder.
Now he was left with nothing to do but beat a reluctant retreat. No use glancing at her wistfully as he neared the door. Nothing he could do or say would change her mind now. She was pleading, but firm, "Out, please..NOW!"
The burly black T-shirt advanced, as if to protect her. "This does not have to get nasty, you know."
He knew. He was too tired, too resigned to protest anymore. Moreover, he still had the scar on his cheek from the last time he had tried to fight the inevitable. He rattled his glass empty, threw down the straw, and got up. He left quietly.
As he stumbled into the cab in confusion and regret, he saw the handsome bouncer turning over the chairs, and turning off the neon "Open" sign, as the bar-tender wiped down the bar and removed her apron.
He took out his cell phone and called his Alcoholics Anonymous buddy. "Hey Kev, I got kicked out of the bar again".
Why did he let it come to this desperate end? Why, oh why did he fail to see the signs? It wasn't that they were lacking..He should have noticed when his friends started drifting away, shaking their heads at him in pity and disbelief. Or when her looks of eagerness and invitation started to turn into disgust and disapproval. Or when he first realized that the lines between reality and fantasy had started to blur. Definitely when he saw her talking to the strong, handsome man in the black T-shirt and the comforting arm around her shoulder.
Now he was left with nothing to do but beat a reluctant retreat. No use glancing at her wistfully as he neared the door. Nothing he could do or say would change her mind now. She was pleading, but firm, "Out, please..NOW!"
The burly black T-shirt advanced, as if to protect her. "This does not have to get nasty, you know."
He knew. He was too tired, too resigned to protest anymore. Moreover, he still had the scar on his cheek from the last time he had tried to fight the inevitable. He rattled his glass empty, threw down the straw, and got up. He left quietly.
As he stumbled into the cab in confusion and regret, he saw the handsome bouncer turning over the chairs, and turning off the neon "Open" sign, as the bar-tender wiped down the bar and removed her apron.
He took out his cell phone and called his Alcoholics Anonymous buddy. "Hey Kev, I got kicked out of the bar again".
posted by RTD2 at 5:19 PM
4 Comments:
Hey girl! Really good one!!! Wonder where the inspiration to that one came from!! keep writing : )
Good one. Nice setup and execution.
Really engrossing stuff ... good one ..
Thanks all!
Mars..I assure you, the inspiration is external ;)
Actually for work, I was interviewing a security guard and he said that bouncers have the most trouble with drunks if they abruptly close the bar, as opposed to phasing it out etc.So one thought led to another, and voila!
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