Week 11 – Drinking with Family, Old Friends
The road is busy.
It is raining.
My windscreen wipers are on full speed.
James Blunt is playing on the stereo.
It's 11:00am.
It's Wednesday.
I have decided to go and visit my parents.
I need a break away from the pressures of city life.
I borrowed Charlotte's car to drive back.
She hardly uses it because she lives in town.
She put me on her insurance.
It makes the trip easier and quicker.
It's only 100 miles but buses and trains can be such a pain.
12:30pm
I arrive at my parent's house.
They are both at work.
They will be home at about 5pm.
I decide to cook them dinner.
I go to the local supermarket.
I buy ingredients for a chicken & vegetable curry.
A ready made gateau.
And three bottles of white wine.
I cook the meal.
I call my friend Chloe who I went to school with.
She still lives in our local town.
She lives with her boyfriend and wee boy.
I ask her if she wants to meet up later tonight for a catch up.
She suggests meeting in the town's local bar.
I haven't seen her for about six months due to our busy schedules colliding.
I am looking forward to seeing her.
5:10pm
Dinner is ready.
5:45pm
My parents arrive home.
We sit down at out dining table.
I pour the chilled wine into my mum's crystal glasses.
We eat our meal.
The food is spicy.
We drink the first bottle of wine quickly because of this.
We chat.
We talk about my cousin's wedding that is coming up.
We talk about my aunt's upcoming hospital appointment.
My dad tells us funny stories about his clients at work.
My mum tells stories about her new boss.
I tell my mum and dad about getting stood up on a date.
We all laugh.
"Plenty more fish in the sea" my mum says.
That is a typical answer from her.
7:00pm
We sit down in front of the TV.
We open another bottle of wine.
We watch some telly.
8pm
I leave the house to meet Chloe.
I walk to the pub.
The town is small so it only takes me 15 minutes to get there.
I have a quick cigarette on the way there.
My mum and dad do not know that I smoke.
I have to hide it.
I feel like I am 15 again.
Like when Jenny, Nicky, Katy were 16 and we would drink and smoke on the streets and hope are parents would not find out.
I'm 30 now and am still worrying about this.
I pass a group of four girls standing on the street corner laughing, chatting and smoking.
They must be about 16 years old.
A group of boys go and join them and they all walk down the street together.
They remind me of me and my friends at that age.
8:15pm
I throw my cigarette butt on the ground and enter the pub.
Chloe is already there.
There is a bottle of wine on the table and two glasses.
We give each other a hug.
She tells me about her holiday to Spain.
She tells me about her new job she is about to start in childcare.
She fills me in on the local gossip in the town.
Who is marrying who.
Who is having babies.
Who is divorcing who.
This chat makes me forget all the troubles and pressure in my life.
Sometimes I think I could move back to my home town but I know the reality would be a lot different.
It is nice place though to visit, escape away from everyday life and be with people you love.
After two bottles of wine and a few sneaky cigarettes outside – where I hope none of my parent's friends will have seen me, we leave the bar.
We link arms laughing and chatting as we walk up the road.
We reach Chloe's house.
I give her a cuddle and we say goodnight.
11:45pm
I walk back to my mum and dads.
I have another cigarette.
I spray perfume to hide the smell.
As I reach my parents house I see the same group of girls and boys from earlier at the end of the street.
They are singing and laughing.
One girl is being sick on the pavement.
They are drunk.
It is Wednesday night.
I guess it's the school holidays but we would never go out drinking on a week night.
I unlock the door.
My parents are already in bed.
I change into my pyjamas and get into bed.
I have had a great night.
I love being at home.
