This short story is about an encounter I had with my brother-in-law. Let’s just say that alcohol and brother-in-laws don’t mix. What say you?
I enter my sister’s house that I frequent daily. As I pass into the living room, my nephew
comes running up to me, with eyes open wide, and says, “Uncle Sean…Uncle Sean,
my daddy is home”. His eyes darting back
and forth, as he speaks.
Hold It!
I’m not going to tell you what my real middle name is, but I
will go so far as to say that it is one of three. Sean(Sh-awn) Shawn(self explanatory) Shane(Sh-anne)
Everybody pronounces it like dawn, except with a “sh” at the
beginning.
Continue…
“I know he’s back nephew. Remember, you called me and told me a few nights ago”, I replied.
Tottering back and forth, he said, “No, Uncle Sean, he’s
here.”
As he spoke those words, a large shadow appeared behind
him. It was my kind-of brother-in-law. Eh, I want go into why he’s been away, but it
was a surprise to see him back.
“How the hell are you, Sean”, he muttered, as he entered the
dimly lit living room.
“I’m great”, I replied.
Nephew scanning our faces, anticipating what will be said
next, as we are his heroes…
He looked at me and said, “Wow Sean, you really have
changed, since I’ve been gone. Heck, I
think you are even taller than you were before.”
Fiddling with my lighter, trying to ignite a ciggy, I
replied, “Yeah mate, I’ve gotten taller…and tougher. I’m not a kid anymore, that much is for
certain. I’m pernicious, insidious,
promiscuous, and down right bastardly…”
With a look of shock encompassing his face, he asked, “What
has happened to you Sean? What’s with
the accent and the big words?”
“I’m growing in ways that are insurmountable to someone,
such as you”, I answered.
We entered into the kitchen, sat down at the table, and he
said, “Don’t you ever talk down to me. When
I left here, you were a harmless being that would never hurt anyone or
anything…You’ve changed Sean…And, take that damn cigarette out of your
mouth. You know them things are bad for
you. .”
______________________________________________
Falling back in my chair in a roaring laughter, I cried,
“Nothing has happened to me, I simply fell in love, and now I’m being tortured,
because she is 3000 miles away. That
kind of thing tends to make any man hard. I’ve got to get back, for I’ll go mad, if I’m stuck here for much longer. God, what the hell am I going to do? Now, do you understand?”
With a look of empathy upon his eyes, he replied, “I’m sorry
Sean. That must be hell.”
“Yep”, I muttered.
He stood up from his chair across from me, and inspected the
contents of the Fridge. He turned back
around to me and said, “Hey Mr.
I’ve got some Guinness in here. Do you
want one?”
Sitting up in my chair, I replied, “You know it. Get me an ashtray while you are up, please.”
He shifts across the kitchen and grabs an ashtray, which was
dangling on the windowsill, above the sink.
As he glides back into the chair across from me, he asks,
“So, what’s next for Mr. Nothing is Impossible?”
“Well, I’m moving to
year. I’ll be over there for five or six
months studying…”
He clasped the clear-glass tabletop, and said, “No fucking
way dude. This is crazy… You’ve went from being barely able to take
care of yourself, to kicking ass, and studying abroad. Dammit boy, what’s next?”
“You never know about me, I’m up to something all of the
time.” I replied, as I intake more beer.
My nephew comes running into the kitchen, from the living
room, and says, “Daddy, will you come outside. I want to show you some new tricks I learned on my skateboard.”
“Sure son, I’ll be out in a minute”, my brother-in-law
answered.
“You’re lucky”, I said in my drunken state, while popping
the top off of another Guinness.
“How is that”, he replied.
“You’ve got a son to carry on your family name, and…I….I…I
don’t have anything. Did you know that
I’m the last “
two legs, and I’m….”, I muttered in a
sincere voice.
“Don’t worry about it”, with a smile overtaking his face.
——————————————————————
Laughing, I said, “Damn right, I’m a tough sumbitch
(southern slang for son of a, you know the rest).”
He stood up from his chair, and said, “You think you are
tough. Huh… Bring it on Mr.”, while flinging his arms
through the air.”
“Belt up boy. Be a
man, and go spend time with your son. Be
thankful you have one. Rest assured, if
you ever do that boy wrong, I will knock your ass out, and so help me if…. You’re like a brother to me, but I’ll not
take shit from anyone anymore”, I cried, while standing to my feet.
As the alcohol begins to drain from his brain, he realised
that I had changed, and said, “I’m sorry Sean”.
We spent a lot of time discussing my nephew and sister. Eventually, he calculated that I’ve changed,
but only in good ways. 
He’s a good fellow, even with all the
problems.
Powered by FireStats
yout writing is developing nicely Jefferson – keep it going
Thanks Skint…
I’m having difficulty structuring everything the way I want it, but it’s a work in progress, just like me.
The story, Life’s Grand, Yeah, had no destination, that’s why it drifting off. Yeesh…
Thanks again for the kind words sir.