Alcohol and age, both have a similarity; they tend to transport u to a world that u wished it were. Those high paying researchers argue, it slows down your senses and think ability; but I beg to differ.
I have never been governed by any health practitioner’s words of caution. I think they are all a part of the big conspiracy! Yes, the big money making scheme which is funded by the multibillion dollar pharmaceutical co’s; roping in anyone and everyone who would help them boost their yearly profitability. “ Don’t have this, never have that..take this medicine, use that therapy..” all crap talk. They really don’t want u to be well, they just wanna tone down the level of your illness, prolong it and treat it with fancy new med’s or procedures.
Wow! Simply malevolent; yet Lord bless them, and they be praised for all their help.
Here.. “cheers, to all you fiends..” thank you for telling me u know when I die.”
No I’m not rich like you, I struggle to make both ends meet; but do u really think I’m that cheap to keep a count of how many glasses of alcohol I had? “Haaan…”
“U know my friend, today was the last day of work! I’m not retired..that would still be an honorary thing, they don’t want me anymore out there!!”
“40 years…40 years, my friend ; my life has just been a cycle of waking up, walking the streets. The sun neva bothered me, my ol’ umbrella held me against the rain. Though I never fancied the snow, what I dreaded the most ; was this city’s ever growing noxious traffic .”
“Grill 89 & Bar!!”. “ What a beautiful place; the furniture..food…ambience..cutlery…music; oh did I tell you about the cellar? The best that I have ever seen! ”
“Of course, I told u about it. How can u forget about Halloween…eeh ,the one we celebrated with the stolen bottle of the finest Spanish Rioja! Oh, u selfish scoundrel… u don’t even remember, the huge amount of alcohol I had stolen for u over this long! You disgust me..”
My black and whites, were the signature of my authority. The bronze finish Name plate, the clean shoes, well ironed suits... I loved them all. I was not just doing my job, I was living every moment of it. I might not have achieved things farfetched in life, but I was happy with a lighter load of remorse.
An alcoholic father and his obsession for hookers; kept me out of the house on most occasions. Growing up in a neighborhood of meth labs, pick up spots and swarming peddlers; shaped my younger years into a cloud of conjuring melee. Things seemed wrong, and then surprisingly; they felt right! Neither of us wanted each other around, and both had made arrangements to make sure that we saw less of one another. But there was one time, I really prayed he was around. The only time I wished to see my father!
The cops had a deal, some sort of an agreement with the drug lord; they heated up the officials pockets and in turn the cops let them carry their business at less pain. It was understood; these frequent raids were only a cover up, more like a routine drill. U see, the higher Feds had to be ascertained that the local authority were doing their part to eliminate crime.
But there’s always a twist in the tale.. “Wrong place…wrong time!” . Arrested under possession of narcotics, a list of charges were pressed against me! I realized, I was an scapegoat of a deal gone wrong! There was no chance of coming out clean. I wasn’t part of any nexus, neither was bail an option to contemplate. The court neva believed my case, so I spent a long time in the “Juvie”!
There was no rehabilitation, just a slow process to turn you into a cold hearted anti-social element. Time ran slow, time was just about days turning into nights, and nights into days..The frequent brawls, at times entertained an at times made me bleed in solitary. In that dark chamber, I thought of the world. There were times I wished I be smoking under the sun, breathing free air; and then there were thoughts that this solitude was a better life.
The world beyond the barbed wires was just limited to thoughts that the mind had collected over the period spent outside this detention. 3 years, was a long time! Long enough to accept, no one will ever come to see u.
A day came when I stepped out, or lemme put it this way..when I was “Rehabilitated”. It’s a little clichéd when u realize how much effort the Govt. takes to fit u in to society; when all they achieve is, label u a misfit! Nothing was the same anymore, nothing seemed to be the same no more. I saw the world in a different light and I’m dead sure, it only had a monochromatic hue for me.
I was changed..foreva! I promised myself neva to go back to the same ol’ block. And till this date I have honored it.
A borrowed canvas bag stuffed with old clothes, and 80 dollars from the hidden stash; I bid adieu to the town..my eyes never went moist, just a sigh of relief when I boarded the bus.
The journey was long, and I had no destination.
City and its ways were nothing like I have ever seen before. Tall buildings, fancy cars, fashionable people ..you think about it..its right there! A dream world all together, shining bright even at night.
No shelter, erratic food source and dwindling funds..seemed awfully less painful than the life I lived. My days as a cell inmate, had taught me to keep troubles at bay. Though the dark, lonely alleys provided shelter..it refused to protect u from trouble and trouble makers. Muggers, law enforcers weren’t much of an unease, it's only the street dogs that gave me a hard time.
Life was not normal, but neva was it supposed to be easy. Earning a living was hard. Food came from thrown left over’s; the only bliss was, people never knew where I came from, what I had done, nor what I never did. To the society I was just a street dweller, not a convict! No human, no man…just a life form on the street!
From the trash thrower… to news paper boy… to innumerable odd job guy, life changed one evening when I went to deliver a pizza in an up class apartment.
I rang the bell, but no one answered. Pressed it a couple more times; but still, came no reply. As I was about to slide a note under the door; reading, the “Sorry! We missed you/ You didn’t answer the door…” template, I heard a faint cry of choke. Startled, I tried opening the door. I slammed it, pushed it; yelled,” if anyone was in there?” but there was no response. A few vigorous rams and the door finally broke.
Inside lay a man, gasping for breath! I ran towards him, and I knew, that 25 dollars had to come from my pay. I couldn’t make sense of the sounds that came out of his mouth, but I figured that he needed his inhaler! I ransacked the surrounding, and I swear..God was with me that night; I found his inhaler! I revived him, called up 911!
Moments later a big white Van took him away. I returned back to deal with the heckle of my owner. Little did I know, life was about to take a new turn.
The next day, my boss called me into his office on an urgent note! I knew, it had to be the remittance of the pizzas that were not delivered last night. Yes, it was…and to my surprise no it wasn’t! Turns out, that the guy I saved was a rich man, owner of an up class restaurant/ fine diner in the city. He wanted to meet me. The tone of my owner suggested that all losses incurred last night have been taken care off! A relief!
This time the knock on the ol’ door was greeted by a “come in”! Mr. Hantiesto Bordeaux, looked very diif. from the man I saved the night before. He was impeccably dressed, a glass of scotch in his hand and a Cuban burning between his fingers! He offered me a drink, which I gladly accepted. The morning rolled with honest gratitude, stories about life, heart breaks and concluded with me being appointed as the head waiter in his restaurant.
An appreciable pay cheque, a small living facility of my own…life started looking good.
Years rolled, and I grew older. I fell in love. Sophie! A beautiful young damsel in her mid twenties! She had ivory dark hair, skin like butter and a body to make one want her for life. Romance drew us close, and passion even closer.
Everything seemed perfect, when the dream collapsed on the night I caught her with Kevin in the food stock area.
“She broke my heart! Took my life away…took away the very meaning to live.”
I wasn’t recuperating, just taking solace in the company of my new found friend…Alcohol!
“Do u remember, when and how we met? Even I don’t know…but what the heck! What matter’s is…You; have been a good friend and.. stuck to my side for long. Cheers!”
“You know, there’s another regret, because of my drinking my work…my life…my friends…my reputation and my ways…they have all gone down the sewage! !
“My fault, agreed…but they don’t want me anymore out there. Yes, I have grown old; my audible and visionary senses are not at peak, but I try…u know..to work!”
“My hands tremble at times, I forget things…so? U don’t start disrespecting me for that! I have given so much to the restaurant..my life, it’s all there..but..(sigh!!!) “
“Forgive your old mate’s blabber…do u wanna know why I asked you to come over?” I retired today…”
“They gave me this…(A bottle of Jack Daniel’s) how cheap can these buggers get; a life time’s commitment wrapped in a token of 38 dollars worth bottle. Wallaaah!”
Aaah..worlds famous bourbon whisky, lovingly called ‘Jack’. I’m not sure what the guys in the T.V were blabbering about ; world, politics, social concerns, weather …the fact is I didn’t give a rats ass to what was goin on in that 21” screen. May be it was jack’s stupefaction or the cannonade of the remorse’s of the life I had lived for so long; whatever it was I just had no clue.
I sat on my old chair, drinking with my old friend. When I remembered, I had bought something!
Inside my bag, wrapped in a clumsy looking box was my gift; a gift I had promised myself as a retirement reward. With shaky hands, I kept it on the table.
I unboxed her, and boy; did she wear a dull shine. No doubts, she looked Beautiful! The Windicator, 38spl 2” 6sh Blue… and under $170, she was quite a bargain. Alex was stunned, may be more inclined on confusion at this purchase, but to hell with him..its not about what he wants. Tonight was about me.
By the time, the bottle served us the last round; we were done arguing..
“Alex, my friend. You have been a good friend to me; stood by me when there was no one around, wiped my tears, never let me drink alone…heard my sorrow’s, laughed at my stupid humor… I ask u one last favor…”
I slid the gun across the table !
“We had a good run together…free me, my friend!”
As I took the last sip, I closed my eyes…never realized; when death came and walked away!!
