Let’s be honest. She was an alcoholic. But don’t worry, I emphasize the was. What she really was, was an incredible woman who needed a break.
She worked in management at the local market and soon found her situation disparaging. She smoked cigarettes. Loved most of the brand’s. Had a couple kids, but the kids were too talkative. And when they spoke, they were boring. She couldn’t relate. What with the fact that she did a better job than her predecessor at raising kids. But the little shit’s were boring.
As a matter of fact nothing much intrigued her. Crawling away and dying was a fantasy but she didn’t have time for that either.
Despite seeing herself as a wreck, people loved her. Management loved her, her customers loved her. Bunch of malarkey to her but she went with it. Long story short, she wanted a break. So, she got plastered one afternoon before her shift and told everybody she wasn’t going into work. Poor bastards said that was fine and that she deserved a day off. This got her upset. How could they let her off so easy? Didn’t they need her? She was pissed in a poised fashion. She went with it.
But she wasn’t into it. She decided to test the limit. She told them that she wouldn’t be back for the whole week. Then she hung up the phone, smoked a grit in her couch chair and sang stupid songs she made up on the spot.
A week later, guess who called? It was her lovely bunch of workers. But this time, they had realized that she was very necessary and needed her to do a bigger job than she was ready for.
‘Courtney.’ They started. ‘We are sad to hear that you don’t feel valued in our work environment. Because of this, we decided that you need a new change. We have a flight booked for you to arrive in Antarctica. We want to build a shop out there and the workers need to know our desired layout, but perhaps, you might have some desired ideas of your own. If you wish to hand the project to Sadie, go right ahead, but we have an inkling that this one’s for you. Best regards, management.’
She was so excited by the call that she suddenly sobered up and realized that there was more to life than being stagnant, bored and depressed. From here on out, she was packing her bags, wishing her kids good luck on rent and groceries and heading off to a new adventure.
…Antarctica was beautiful. There were plenty of alcoholics and other indulgers that found that with more time where they weren’t too needed allowed for self-indulgence. But oddly enough, with more responsibility, she quickly quit drinking to give more direct orders to the scoundrels who were working on the project. It wasn’t until two months later that she even thought about life back in the Midwest and maybe even missed management and her kids, but all of those things just without the drinking. If this was the corporations idea of a sober living environment rehab facility, then they were in fact genius. But she wasn’t ready to admit that so soon as she headed home with a carton of milk, she decided that she too would milk her stay. Perhaps three months was an okay time to head back. Or four, five, or six. Maybe even a year. The kids were even managing and able to do all that she asked, but she doubted the dirty bastards had really been keeping up with laundry. But she went with it.
The cold air really asked of a lot and drinking only made the system warm for a second, then invariably weak and cold. To keep drinking for the buzz would only wear out the system.
She still smoked a pack a day though, mainly to keep the younger men who found her attractive away. A little bit of ashtray and dragon breath even got older gentlemen to part ways so she kept that healthy habit strong.
She found her way to Antarctica through rebellious binge drinking. I hope we all find our way too.
Short Stories
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I like this reads like a story and with touches of humor yet inviting nice write!
Thank you so much! This site has been so pivotal in awareness and inspiration and it’s also got a close knit amount of writers. I hope we all keep writing and grow with each other through the years. Keep writing! And thank you for reading, and the feedback! Much appreciated.
I have read a few of your stories, poems, or just general writing, and so far have loved every one of them. I am still learning but I hope to one day connect words like you do.
Everybody has their own writing style, and that may take time to find and develop. But as you value my skill set in which I do not take notice, you too have your own style and way in which you write that can be observed but not easily replicated. Please keep writing. I am working on a few things as I take some time in this new learning curve that I find myself in.