I sat alone in the rundown bar that 'stood' a block away from my apartment. It wasn't much, hell, it wasn't anything worth description, but it was the only damn place I could get a good bourbon without need'n a loan from the bank. Tonight I needed to dull the doubled edge blade called 'life.' I swirled the amber and ice together, watching them dance as people around me move in and out of the bar. There are a few lightweights down at the end of the bar, putting up more noise than a damned canary. I wished the barkeeper had left the bottle; then I could toss it and see how close it gets to the kids. Hopefully that'd shut them up. My six bourbons didn't do anything...maybe number seven with have more luck to it...
*Beep* *Beep* *Beep*
The hell....? I pull my beeper off my belt at look at it. It's Ed. No offence to Ed, but I am in no mood for any damned Red Crown business tonight.
For some reason, I just couldn't get the thought of Bradley out of my head today. I toss back number seven and give it a minute. Once one turned to five I looked at the empty glass as asked 'why do you torment me?' I set the empty number seven next to its brothers and called for number eight. But no dice. The barkeep ain't given me anymore and thinks I should sober up for the rest of the night. Yeah, cut me off but keep let'n the kid there waste himself...I swing around the barstool and look down at my watch. 2:49. Make that 2:50. Hell I was tired. If I didn't get some sleep now I could only hear what Ed would have to say 'ya reap what ya sow' what ever the hell that meant. I stumble my way out the door and back to my place. Its got a bed, a crappy T.V., run down appliances and a phone. As you can see, Ed pays me very well for my work.
Once inside the door my leather jacket is chucked onto a sofa with busted springs and my shoes are kicked off into the closet. I close the blinds in my room; foresight tell'n me that the sun ain't going to be welcome tomorrow. The black tie I got on and shirt both head to the floor, followed shortly after my belt and pants. Once I'm all comfy in bed with my boxers still on I hit the lights and try to forget everything one last time.
But darkness, the one thing I need right now doesn't come. I lie under the thin sheets I got, barely keeping the hair on my legs from standing up, listening as the clock ticks by; seconds slipping away. Precious seconds that could have been spent sleeping. I roll over, hoping that if I'm not facing the clock, it won't sound as loud as it does. Finally I catch a break. I can't hear the clock anymore. I can't hear the cars honking as they drive around the city in the early morning twilight of December 28, looking for a place to hang out tomorrow night, New Year's Eve.
With my head on the near empty pillow, if one would call it that, my eyes feel like a hundred pounds, and I have no strength to keep them open any more. I'll buzz Ed in the morning....