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Author's Note...Doesn't follow the typical format; this chapter is longer than the other ones. But you'll see why at the end. I made a major reference for all of you that are well-read out there--bonus points if you can identify it! (Although I thought it was pretty obvious)
Gluttony
Chase does not exactly know how, or why, or when his mother decided to start getting better, but he does understand to a degree that this sobriety is false, and full of lies. Under it all, a thief will always be a thief, a deadbeat always a deadbeat, and an alcoholic always an alcoholic.
But his mother's abstinence from the drink, so to speak, has lasted for over a month now, and Chase does not know why. He refuses to believe it; for believing it will add oxygen to the already flaming fire, making the inferno all the more worse.
But another month passes by, and his mother is still refusing herself the indulgence. While stiffly rejecting the notion that this rose in the thorn bush will be perennial, Chase is slowly allowing himself to enjoy the fragrance of the sweet flower.
And another three weeks slowly creeps by, and Chase is abandoning all of his negativity and pessimism in lieu of an optimistic glory. A golden age has finally been declared and Chase is taking full advantage of it, in every dimension of his life. His grades are improving (although there was never much need for improvement), he no longer feels ashamed to bring friends over so he throws caution to the wind and makes some, and best of all; it seems he has reached at least a topical closure on his father. Life is as sweet as alcohol is bitter.
XXXxxxXXX
Everyone in the class knows that Narkler's entire curriculum has been building up to this April day and, with excitement laced in his voice, Narkler asks the class what they have learned this year. A half dozen or so students raise their hands, their arms erect in the air. Narkler smiles and calls on Sophia Brennen, who cheekily answers that Romans fall hard. Next, Luke Pertrow interjects that essentially; only half the Romans fell, the other half flourished in the Byzantine Empire. This makes Chase smile to himself; it is proof that in a pair, one member can fall without bringing down the other. Proof that he no longer needs.
Banter like this continues for the rest of the period, and when the bell rings, all the students are rather reluctant to go. All except Chase. He is the third out the door, and he happily takes the bus (as he could not use his car if he wanted to) home, fully awaiting barbeque.
What he found was a letter so tear-stained all Chase could make out was that it was from his father and four empty bottles of alcohol. Chase's heart plummeted to his stomach, and the only thing he could feel were the words vibrating dangerously in his mind:
Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall
Ninety-nine bottles of beer
Take one down
Pass it around
Ninety-eight bottles of beer on the wall
Out of the corner of his eye, Chase could see another half-empty bottle, previously unnoticed, lying precariously against the microwave. Suddenly, Chase realized why she had done it, and in one fluid movement, grabbed the drink by the neck and chugged it down, trying to fulfill a thirst as unquenchable as that of Tantalus.
He did not hear the ambulance sirens' unbearable wailing, (nor did he know who had summoned them) but it was just as well because he did not need to listen to the proof that his mother had finally ended her existence.
Chase goes to school the next day because there is no one to stop him and he has a mission. At the end of history, Chase approaches Narkler and tells him that he understands the lesson. Narkler beams and urges him to continue. The lesson, Sir, is that history repeats itself.
XXXxxxXXX
As he desperately clings to the toilet, the only thing Chase can remember about the funeral earlier that day was the elaborate buffet at the wake. His stomach was the only thing Chase allows himself to feel, because it is full while everything else was empty.
Chase knows that he has committed gluttony today, and in Hell, he will be forced to eat rats, toads, and snakes. He is sure that the Devil forgot to mention that the drink of choice is alcohol.
And Chase is strangely comforted by the fact that he will not dine alone. No, he and his mother will finally share their barbeque together; the only difference between this life and Hell is the menu.