Night 7 - short story 2

This is another short story. The contents may, or may not, be true.

----------

Beers are flowing, spirits are high, people are smiling and the small lounge on the 6th floor of an apartment in the heart of Edinburgh is engulfed in happiness. Jacques is explaining the rules of drinking games to newcomers to the group, Jimmy is snapping away at what I know will be spectacular photos and videos, Pierre's drowning the table and cards with his beer, Eli's doing what he does best and getting along with every member present, the Aussie girls Tess and Demi are putting on their best Pukana voices.

Our brains are suitably contaminated with alcohol when Jim puts on our old band Soulmon's song, 'Gypski.' All of a sudden we're all on our feet screaming at the top of our lungs, teleported to the Dog's Bollix circa 2009 - "be mine, I cannot draw the line, you're always on my mind..." Then to be inclusive of the non Kiwis, we put on Lion King and go nuts altogether.

The time is 10pm as we stumble towards the street party. Hogmanay Street, New Year's Eve. The atmosphere is electric. People are are singing and dancing. Our group starts to get split and I manage to gather Eli, Jim and Pierre for a pep talk. "ALRIGHT. TONIGHT WE ARE STAYING TOGETHER. THIS IS US!" I'm on a high and we make our way through the crowd to find a good spot. Nek minnut, we've lost Pierre already. But that's alright because we've found a group of Scottish girls to dance with. Beautiful accents to go with their beautiful faces.

All of a sudden it's 11.45pm. My bladder is about to explode and I'm convinced that I won't make it 'til midnight. Against my peers' warnings that I'll never make it back, I head off in search for a bathroom, or a corner. I try climb fences to get somewhere secluded but the police politely point me in another direction. Next moment, my bladder feels empty. I feel my pants and they're dry so I'm safe. I was really disorientated by yelling, cheering and lots of booming in the sky. I look up and fireworks are going off. Fuck! I didn't make it.

The crowds are dispersing and I can't contact anyone and I decide that's the end of my night. What a let down. I'm staggering away when this girl yells to me, "where's your kilt?!" That's all I remember from the conversation with this German/Chinese girl but it must've gone well because now I was headed off to a Scottish house party with these strangers.

We reached the destination after about an hour. I was welcomed with open arms and red wine magically appeared in my hand and I gladly obliged in transferring it into my belly via the mouth. I met a short Slovakian girl named Sofia and she became my friend for the evening. The the German/Chinese girl started vomiting everywhere inside the house. It was chunky. It turned out she was Sofia's friend so she had to go look after her. I was actually really smitten for the host - a beautiful blond hair, blue eyed Scottish woman, who I swear never talked - she only sang sweet lullabies with her dulcet tones.

The taxi home cost 22.50 so we must've walked a decent way. It'll forever be a mystery where in Edinburgh it was when I met the most hospitable people with such warm hearts.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Notes for 27-years-and-5-months-old Phil

... even if he won't really understand. Dear Phil, Remember: Samos is a beautiful Greek island. With beaches, mountains, history and all the lures of a typical holiday destination from which you might expect. Samos is an inhabited island. It has shops, hospitals, cafes, bars, clubs, ATMs. You're not going there to be marooned. Don't say "I'm hungry" flippantly. Or ever. Don't say "football should be fun and happy" when people start getting competitive. Especially if you're coming from having 'won' the lottery of being from a place with freedom, opportunities, safety. RE: The police. "Serve + Protect." Who? "You and your friends" is not the correct answer. 'All Star' by Smash Mouth is a great boogie / sing along. Leave it at that and don't add it to your karaoke play list. There's a second verse you have no idea about. Your patience will be tested. You will feel like a horrible per...
Read more

Sonnet NoName - (March '17)

Image
Shall I compare you to a Samos day - data attained, analysed, authenticated the world over? You drift, dragging, anchored, seeking your weigh Numberless, stateless, in purgatory hover Lying to sleep, no light to be dimm'd Storm clouds above float free without borders Whilst this bed lifts to reveal the horizon Your eyes see no distance - only rock faces untrimm'd But your open heart and mind has not faded Despite the decisions circumstance has dictated They scoot over helm(et)-less, trampling their grit Whilst yours reinforces like steel bit by bit      So long as you can breathe and your eyes can see      So long lives this - a pledged devotee View over the hotspot, out into Samos town and beyond
Read more

SHARE ۯ FOOD

Image
This child was told 27 years to share food. He did good, read books, but never learned to split bread - spat back at what mum said. Never thought it was selfish 'cos, 'If I bought it and I ordered, then it should be as I wished.' Of course, there were times that I chose to be nice, remorse for the untouched vegetable sides. But inside my mind was a shallow road block. A dam full with still rules withers and rots. Distilled water needed to release the hold, in the form of cabin dwellers hosting NGOs -  made kindness mean money. Now I see my flaws. Tap water, a comb, a blunted shaver. The barber's cape - a poncho pullover. Vigilant flicks adding spritzes of flavour... only to follow with a 'see ya later...' The gap in the teeth is seen in the absurd. Later that night, I'll take flight in a metal bird and he'll  stay days contained, on uneven earth. Asylum sought but still caught where they were thought as not who but store bought h...
Read more