Skip to main content

Excerpt: Grayish 2

Grayish 2, Introducing another character.



“I can't give you one more drink. Legally Denise, you are drunk.” The bartender handed her a glass of water. “If you keep drinking this way...”
“Tony, please. If I have to hear another of your stories...oh.” She leaned her head on the counter. “I think I would prefer to just shoot myself, let's leave it at that.”
“Good thing your apartment is upstairs. I mean, not a good thing but at least you don't live far so that I would have to worry if you cold drive or not.”
“I'm fine, I'm fine.” Denise could barely get up.
“Why do you drink so much, huh? Are you ever going to share that little secret with me? I'm curious.”
“Ask my mother. She stressed the shit out of me. This is why I'm so horrible. If she ever cared to call me it was simply to remind me what a horrible person I was. All this time I just wanted my mother to love my a little, you know?”
“You're doing well with your life Denise. You are a known photographer, what more can you ask for?”
“I'm alone.”
“Okay,”
“I have none to share this happiness with. The alcohol is my only friend.”
“What about your sister Juliana?”
“You mean Juliana the perfect Juliana? I don't think so. I mean what could we possibly have in common? She is a lawyer and she is married to this perfect husband and...I have nothing but a stupid apartment I bought when I inherited dad's money and a stupid career in photography. Big deal!”
“There are people that have nothing.”
“Oh no, no.”
“What? It's a valid point.”
“Are you going to talk to me about the kids in Africa? They are starving and are far in a worse situation than I am and trust me I do donate money, okay?”
“Okay.”
“I donate money so I don't feel guilty when I complain about my life. And you don't get to take that away from me Tony. You don't get to make me feel guilty for hating my life. It's not fair.”
“What's not fair is what little importance you give to your life. You are drinking it away. I mean, really? Donating money to the needy just to not feel guilty when you are screwing up your life? I think you need more help than those kids. Maybe they don't have money but I know they must be much happier than you are. See, when people do not have anything, they learn to appreciate things a lot better.”
“You are a terrible person.”
“I hope you think about that next time.”
“I have to go.” Denise could barely get up from her chair. “I mean, you are supposed to encourage me to drink. It's not like I don't' have any money to pay for the drinks. Tony you are making money. What's the problem?”
“I have far more responsibilities than you think Denise. I'm a father and I had an alcoholic dad. My purpose here really it's to discourage people from drinking when I see they are doing it simply because they hate their lives. I like people who drink to celebrate things.”
“I...” Denise laughed. “I've never heard such thing from a bartender. Are you kidding me right now?”
“Maybe you should read what it says in the front of the store.”
“Wait....what?”
“This isn't drinking anonymous or...?” Denise laughed again. “Oh God, I'm being a jerk.”
“Well...”
“Oh Tony...”
“Denise, go get some sleep.”
“I forgot this is Happy Bar: Only Drink 4 Happiness and hey that's how much the drinks cost, 4 bucks!”
“Oh, so you do remember the sign my not necessarily funny son made for the bar?”
“Then why do you let me even come in? You know I'm not going to drink because I'm happy. Am I like another project?”
“Good night Denise.”
She grabbed her camera from the counter. “Good night.” She raised her hand in the air and waved before heading out the door.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Los cerebros que se van y el corazon que se queda

El ensayo: “Los cerebros que se van y el corazón que se queda”, de Magali Garcia Rami es magnifico. Me hizo pensar mucho en mí misma porque mi familia inmigró a los Estados Unidos cuando yo apenas tenia 4 años. Lloraba todos los días, extrañando como nadie se imagina a mi país. Especialmente a mi madre que aún seguía allá. A los 22 años que tengo ahora, ya estoy acostumbrada a vivir aquí. Pero no hay día que no piense o hable de mi país y de esa vida cotidiana y tranquila que se vive allá. García Rami menciona en su ensayo que los inmigrantes o cerebros tienden a reunirse hablar de el país que tratan de no añorar y esa es la realidad.               Cada vez que viajo a la Republica me toma unas semanas adaptarme. Ya adaptada, no quisiera regresar a esta país al menos que no sea de visita. Las reuniones entres vecinos, la confianza, y ese precioso mar que nos rodea, me convierte en una persona tranquila y en una persona ...
Post a Comment
Read more

I Let Go

 When I commit to something, I like to see it through.  I work hard to see it through.   I ignore the signs and I keep pushing even when there's nothing worth fighting for. This year though, I am learning to let go of everything; I mean people, I mean situations, feelings, and anything that doesn't serve me. And I grieve all of this but in a healthy way.  I allow time to be my friend. I give myself words of encouragement. I give my body, food, vitamins, and exercise. I give my brain meditation and therapy. I read. I cry, I talk to my sister, and my friends. I Let Go. It's the best thing I could've done for myself. At the end of the day, is it really worth forcing something that's not meant to be for you?
2 comments
Read more

A Lost Story #NationalNovelWritingMonth2024

 I watched a love story, a telenovela, many years ago.  I was maybe between the ages of 5-7 when they played it on TV. Something about that telenovela has lived forever in my mind. I thought that maybe with technology advancing we could see the story again. After years of waiting, I found the director (I love the power of the internet) and he gave me the terrible news that...unfortunately, the story was lost forever.  I may not be able to watch it again, but I would like to write it down in my own words. This is my project for the rest of 2024 and part of NANO WRIMO 2024. What are you writing about for the month of November?
Post a Comment
Read more