My Dinosaur Era Chapter 11 *Rewrite*
By beanzie
- 88 reads
there were three more beers in the hole
shunted myself further away from the bar with each glass
ended up on a table by the toilets
breathing in wafts of piss as time passed
big days on the beer tend to taper away
the promise fizzles
the will to carry on doing this wanes
you stop believing that this is the answer
ashamed of your own familiar self
that has nowhere else to go
I swapped the pub for sainsburys
meal deal, chicken triple
quavers
energy drink to replenish my molten liver
walking along western road
umbrellas inside out in this wind
a cyclist wavers against the kerb
front wheel out of control
one hand hanging onto a hat
barely worth the bother to pedal in the vortex
cut through the park
the swings scream out for company
the silver slide, wiped clean under the rain
a glistening puddle awaits a speeding child
a runner fights through it all, every step splashes
the cafe sits barely open, a lone smoker sits at a plastic table
not even bothering to huddle, proud to be braving it
sheets of water shimmer on the tennis courts
the net droops low
a ball would barely bounce here today
ginny messages me as I leave the park behind
did you meet petula?
nah, she was busy
I can meet you at three, bunking off early today, where are you?
I’m cold and wet now
why aren’t you inside you maniac?
I start to type an answer under a maple tree
she interrupts
I’ll meet you at the lobster, it’s on my way home
I delete my letters
yeah, ok
I turn and walk back through the park, tracing my steps
observing it all the other way around
the world spins in reverse
at the lobster, main bar empty
people in each corner, feels dark
one beer, two beer, one for ginny
she’ll be late
sat in a booth, tv showing basketball with no eyes on it
beer inferior to before, lacks the care of the hole
pump pulled without feeling
affects the taste, prove me wrong
ginny on the lager, bubbles everywhere
might be flat by the time she waltzes in
two fifty nine, she comes, a miracle in our world
her hair stuck flat to her head
she looks even smaller wet
sees me, points the other way, gone again
reappears after a few minutes, grabs pint
still standing, one gulp
sorry, had to dry my hair in the bog, look at the state of it
yeah, I did the same
bald prick
sits down opposite me, still floofing about with her hair
so, how are you, did you go to the hole already?
I did, how did you know, did petula say?
no she did not, timmy, you are just very predictable in your whereabouts
I guess I am
what’s she doing that’s more important than comforting you in your hour of need?
I’m not in an hour of need and I didn’t tell her about work
fair enough, what is she doing then?
yoga, work, dentist
hmm, sounds plausible I suppose
what do you mean sounds plausible?
if I was going to make something up, it would be more random, less mundane
I don’t think she is making it up
yes, that’s what I said timmy
my head is spinning
she’s only been her for two minutes
befuddled me
how’s it going with you two? I bet you haven’t even held hands yet
we actually have held hands
oh, my handsome little boy, all grown up
so glad I met you today, always a warm welcome
her mocking is adorable
it’s her love language
I lap it up
stop being grumpy, timmy, let us drink to your freedom
she raises her glass and I raise mine
she shouts
to freedom
to freedom
the barman furrows his brow
he would though
he’s not free like me
we drink till seven, I trip up the kerb outside the pub
fall to my knees
ginny picks me up, she’s still standing
I’ll take you home, babe
I smile and put my arm around her
we stagger along
up the hill, left a bit, ok, we’re here
she comes up to the flat
another drink now we are safe
jesus, you’ve decorated
yeah, I’ve had the paint for ages
was petula here yesterday perchance?
yeah, but I didn’t paint the walls for her
of course you did, timmy, don’t be silly
the words suck up into my drunken head
the remonstration portion of my brain is broken
also, she’s right, again, again, again
we sit on the sofa with cans of gin and tonic
I threaten to put some reggae on
she wrestles the record out of my hand
no, no, not the fucking downstroke, timmy
we laugh so loud
next door’s dog barks at us
ginny barks back
jumping up and down on the sofa
I put on american pie
she groans as the first bar emerges
a long, long time ago
we sing all the words
at least we think we do
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