December 2023 - Just muddling through life

The party

This was it, another year and another rubbish party. Nursing my head as I staggered out of another crowded bar, I could feel every aching bone in my body. Hearing Lucy shout my name as she is running for a taxi, I wished for a helicopter to land right where I am and transport me to anywhere but here. Nice peaceful desert Island would be great, anywhere but the noise of the busy London suburbs.

Climbing into the taxi, I watch as Lucy pulls a bottle out of her suspiciously small handbag. How had my friend suddenly become ‘Mary Poppins?’ If she starts singing in a moment I won’t be surprised. My head is spinning as she passes me, what looks like Champagne. Pushing it away I vowed that next year I’m not attending the office Christmas party. I attend every year and some of the stories and scandals around the office afterwards can be shocking. I guess that is what happens when you put about fifty men and women on a drunken pub crawl together. At least by going I witness some of what goes on, though this year I can’t remember much.

Why is it so easy to have just another drink? Just one more Harriet, just one more. Next time there wont be one more. Next time I’m sticking to Coca Cola. Sitting kneeling at the white porcelain god all night is not fun and tonight will be the last time.

The next morning

Waking up, I know its Saturday. Somehow, I rolled myself out of bed and started to venture downstairs. The Christmas tree lights welcome me as I reach the bottom and Rex the dog comes bounding up to me. I could hear the radio playing Christmas music, surely Lucy was still asleep. She had finished the drink last night, and we had staggered into the house happily giggling together.

As I walked through the kitchen archway I could see that Lucy was no longer happy. She was sat at the breakfast bar, phone in her hand with tears rolling down her red, now puffy face. Seeing me she cried harder and then passed me her phone. I could feel myself going cold, Lucy was my friend and now what I was seeing didn’t make sense to me. Yes stay away from the office Christmas party and all of its influences.

Lucy and Tom have been together for about two years and they are happy together, I thought. Why am I now looking at a photo of me snogging Tom? I’ve never been attracted to him like that, and why can I not remember? I walk over to the kettle and flick it on. I need tea, as I feel my pocket vibrate I expect to see the same photo but I’m more shocked by the incoming message.

James

Working in a busy newsroom there is a lot of office banter. We are all like family and generally friends. For months now I’ve wondered about James. Tall and handsome and incredibly clever. I’ve tried to make conversation but he has never been interested. Todays message made me swear loudly, making Lucy stop sobbing for a few seconds. I rarely swear but wow, what happened last night?

Grabbing Lucy’s phone, I had another look at the photo. It then dawned on me what had happened. As I sipped my tea, memories of the night came flooding back. Lucy’s photo had been photo shopped, this was two pictures cut and made into one. Who though would be so cruel to Lucy? Who wanted to split her and Tom? And who wanted to wreck our friendship.

I could see that Lucy still remembered nothing of last night, so I passed her my phone.

Messages

‘Hey Harri, nice fun night under the pinecones, can I see you? can we talk today?’

Lucy looked at me, stunned, she knew I liked James, and had for a while.

“Harri what is going on? James is messaging you and you kissed Tom.”

“No, someone has photographed me and James and you and Tom, then photo-shopped it to make it look like me and Tom. Who might want to split you two up?”

“The curse of the drunken Christmas party, there is only one person.”

As Lucy’s phone bleeped we knew it was another photo – this time forwarded from Tom of Lucy kissing James.

“James and Tom talk, don’t they?”

“Yes, why?”

“Let’s all meet up the four of us. Not great for a first date but this needs discussing and our office photo shopper is in for a shock”.

Another party

New year’s eve and another party, this time I was going to enjoy it and remember the evening. Camera phones were out in force as we set out to create a scandal of Ted the photoshop expert. It had evolved that he liked Lucy and was jealous of her relationship with Tom. As Tom proposed that night, Ted could see that his plans had not worked. James happily had his arm around me, maybe 2024 will be a better year.

A few days later, Ted was the talk of the office as photos had appeared of him in his red Rudolf Christmas boxers only. Apparently so drunk at the party that he had paraded around without his trousers. He denied this profusely, but many didn’t believe him. Dangers of playing cruel tricks at the office Christmas party. Thankfully though Lucy and Tom are fine, me and James are great, and all Ted has suffered was a red face.

Happy Christmas to everyone reading this, hope you all have fun and have a good new year!

Written for Writers Unite! photo prompt.

For more see, Travelling and chaos

A long Monday night – the unexpected

It had been a long night working the night shift again with nothing unexpected happening, I needed sleep. Putting my coat on, all I wanted to do was find my duvet. One night runs into another and the week becomes a blur. The need to earn money clashes with my need for rest and recuperation. Some days it seems that there is no difference between Paul the home body and Paul the nurse. I love my time to myself, but the hospital always seems to come first.

I had never been in a serious relationship, at twenty-five years old the right person had never come along. My routine of work and then returning alone to my flat night after night., I was not ready to change. The need for a partner was not something I had ever thought about. I have friends who complain about their partners, moan about their children, why would I want this stress? Alone with my television remote I have no one to answer to, no one to argue with, life is good.

They say to expect the unexpected. They also say we never know what’s around the corner and tomorrow is another day. Maybe I should have stayed at home, or maybe I should just embrace the unknown.

The girl

As I walked past the reception desk and said goodbye to crazy Judy my eye caught a short brown-haired girl. I had never seen her before, but she was sat organising files. She looked up and smiled as I wished Judy a good morning. Walking down the corridor my mind started to wander. When would I have time for anyone else in my life? For now, I need rest and sleep. I can feel my usual exhaustion and the exhilaration of a good night’s work. The patients, their relatives, the camaraderie and support of my colleagues.

It was a few mornings later that I noticed the girl again. I had never experienced these feelings before. I’ve heard of love at first sight, was this it? To provoke such feelings from me there was something special about her.

Looking at the ward roster, I then glanced at Judy, I had been on the night shift for so long it was going to be a struggle to work days. As Judy looked at me, I could see something was going on. I needed to keep my cool and focus on my work, who was the girl? Was she why Judy had changed me to days?

Friday Morning

At a time when I’m usually asleep I find myself asking the new girl for a patient file. Seeing how nervous she was talking to me, I started thinking that maybe now was time to change. Time to stop being Paul the loner, maybe time to get to know someone and consider being with someone else. Can I change? Reading her name badge I can see she is Trudie. Could Trudie possibly be interested in me? Had she said something to Judy? Seeing Judy watching us I could see she had.

The unexpected does not usually happen to me. After weeks of nights, I was going to find it hard to adjust to days. Stifling a yawn I could feel the heat in my face, so many questions racing around my head. This was new to me, was I misreading the signs? Trudie was making small talk, the weather, her journey here, her car. Formulating a plan I realised that I wanted to know her more. Telling myself to relax I listened to her happy chatter. As I heard my name called I felt sad to have to get back to my patients. Yes, this was unexpected, I knew that my life was about to suddenly change.