Walking the streets and not going home after work has become a regular routine for me lately; and I always seem to find myself standing at the front door of this Smokey roach infested **** hole of a bar. Perhaps this place is slowly killing me, who cares, certainly not me. But if I look on the bright side maybe this **** hole will end up being my saving grace one day, but I wouldn't count on it. Can't really explain it but I find comfort here oddly enough, but I'm not sure why that is, it's not like I have any friends here. No, everyone kind of keeps to themselves as they fondle their drink of choice in front of them; pathetic maybe, but I guess they're all sorting out their own disappointing lives, who am I to really judge? You know, It's funny; but no one really knows me for all the times I've been inside this place. But hell, I guess I don't really know anyone either, so I can't really complain, it is what it is. Another night and nothing new or exciting is going on, but then why would it. I didn't strike it rich on the market today, so I still got no money, real money that is, and I didn't get promoted from off the register, so I still got no dignity. Heck, I don't even have a date tonight, but do I ever? So here I am again, finding myself at the door of this **** hole and taking my place at the corner end of the bar, as usual. Funny, I should have my name stitched into this hard wooden stool that my ass is always perched on as much as I'm in here, but then what's the point; this place is never busy. Ha, my name stitched in the seat, now wouldn't that be a hoot. God I hate my life. Harvey dickelson... God, I hate my name. But tomorrow will be a better day; yea, I think tomorrow will be a better day.

            Maybe at this time I should tell you a little bit about myself, cause I'm sure you're wondering. My name is Harvey Dickelson; but you knew that already. I'm twenty-six years old and I still live at home with my mom and dad in a house that I've been at seems my entire life, same room, same everything. I know, I shouldn't complain, I should be grateful for at least having a roof over my head. Its ok... I hear that all the time. Not sure why though but I don't see it that way. Trust me though; I would love to get my own place and get out from under their watch, but working on a Wal-Mart's salary kind of makes that hard to do. Also, I would love to have a girlfriend, but then that seems even harder to do. Its not that I'm embarrassed living at home and all, or even the fact that I'm making the salary of a moron, that's not the reason I don't ask girls out. We all can't be Rockefellers. It's the simple fact that I'm scared to death, scared of girls that is, oh, and I don't have a car. Well, that's what I tell myself anyways, Its because of the car thingy, but the truth of the matter is that my whole life is pretty pathetic. So you can see why I'm a little pissed off at the world and drinking every night. Oh, there's one more thing I forgot to mention, little thing; I'm still a virgin. But don't feel pity for me my friend, cause by tomorrow morning, all that's gonna change.

            Her name is Carla that I've set my eyes on; she's the waitress at this **** hole of a dive I frequent my nights at. But let's be fair, this **** hole does have a name. Manny's, she's the waitress at Manny's. Not sure if she has ever noticed, but I stare at her relentlessly throughout the night, fantasizing, but not stalkingly mind you, I'm not a stalker. Sitting here thinking what to say to her tonight has put me in a trance, and I don't notice Benny the bartender who's crept up on me, so he startles me.

"Boy, what jew havin tonight?" he ask in his slang tongue.I answer back when my heart settles, "Gin and tonic and a shot of whiskey."

"Lemme axe you sumting," he says as he throws a dish rag over his shoulder, "why is it you always in here? Young man like you should be out pulling ***** stead of wasting time in this **** hole."

I laugh to myself at his reference to the bar, but I'm not laughing at his question, if only he knew. But I answer back to him, or should I say, lie to him.

"Dude, I come in here to get away from women, ****, I mean only place I know where I can get a break from um, always hanging on me and all."

"I feel ya," he says as he throws his rag to his other shoulder. Before he walks away he adds, "Drinks will be right up."

            Thank god he's gone I think to myself; now I can go back staring at Carla. But before I start fantasizing about her again, a couple catches my eye in a corner booth, so I focus my attention now on them. Hmm, haven't seen um in here before, probably won't again for that matter, but they must be in love, or else cheaters. They're sitting on the same side of the booth; talking, if only I could hear what their saying. It's not that I'm nosey mind you, just bored is all. I wonder what it feels like to be in love. Maybe tonight I'll find out. I smile to myself as I turn away from the couple and look back over to Carla again. God, again, maybe I am a stalker.

           My gin and tonic arrives along with the shot and I take out the lime. I tell Benny all the time that I don't like lime with my gin and tonics; but he always brings it to me with the lime in it anyway. I'm tired of complaining so I just take it out, its really no big deal. I glance back up to find Carla and I notice she's looking my way, and I'm pretty sure she just smiled at me.It could be my imagination; but it doesn't matter if it was or wasn't; because tonight she's mine.Its time I make my move and finally feel what love can be like. Because I know tonight things are gonna change for me; yea, tonight things are gonna change.

           I take my shot of whiskey and slam it down the ol pipes. I convince myself that I feel like John Wayne, or maybe even Humphrey Bogart and I begin my walk over to her. My palms start sweating and my heart starts racing like it always does; and now, I start feeling like the coward I know I am. Not tonight dam it I tell myself, be a man for once. We exchange chatter for a bit but to no avail, she's not interested, but I can't really blame her. She sees me in here all the time drinking my minimum wage away. I'm pretty sure she's waiting for a doctor or a lawyer to come sweep her off her feet, but good luck with that, cause she's really not that pretty. Its funny, but whenever I get turned down they always somehow become less pretty. I pay my tab and grab my coat, ****; down to my last twenty. I'm lucky my parents don't charge me rent. I guess I'm a glass half full kind of guy. Speaking of them, its time I get home; don't like keeping them up worrying, besides, the stock truck gets in early tomorrow and I need to be there to help unload. As I walk in the house my parents are asleep on their favorite chairs with the television blasting away as I slip past them and head to my room shutting the door snuggly behind, another night down. I take out a playboy magazine and briefly glance through it as I turn my attention to the poster that hangs over my headboard of a Swedish Super Model seductively posing, beckoning me to take her and make love to her. I do so with no regrets as I fantasize and masturbate to her image.

            As I get in my bed and pull up the covers, I look up to the ceiling and twiddle my thumbs around each other, just knowing. Just knowing that tomorrow will be a better day; yea, pretty sure tomorrow will be a better day.

Keyword: Better Day Tomorrow (repost)

Report this story | Add to Favorites | Send to Friends | Author's Profile

No Comments posted

Comments (8)

Posted by Zombie Punk 2008-08-16 19:19:35 Better Day Tomorrow I remember reading this when you first posted it on here and i still think its a humorous depressing tale that is very realistic. I like the way you have the main character narrate the story, it's a cool style I think. Cheers, Max + Report this comment
Posted by Tarhead Mugwump 2008-08-16 22:47:06 better day i think the thing that interests me the most about this story - especially when comparing all of the stories that you have in the bucket, is that one of your multiple personalities got out. this character is very unique. liked it a lot. write on! + Report this comment
Posted by d.dasgupta 2008-08-19 07:26:57 Still good I clearly recall the first version I read. I did not check of the exact details of the changes. I remember that I liked it a lot when I read it the first time, expecially so because it reminded me of Eliot's 'lonely men in their shirtsleeves'. May be I had even mentioned this to you. This cocktail of humour and depression adds special charm as well as realism to the story. It's realistic without a doubt. + Report this comment
Posted by d.dasgupta 2008-08-19 07:31:58 Still good I clearly recall the first version I read. I did not check out the exact details of the changes. I remember that I liked it a lot when I read it the first time, expecially so because it reminded me of Eliot's 'lonely men in their shirt-sleeves'. May be I had even mentioned this to you. This cocktail of humour and depression adds special charm as well as realism to the story. It's realistic without a doubt. A small typo. The paragraph starting with 'Maybe', line 4 from top. I think you mean "it's". + Report this comment
Posted by r.e.potter 2008-08-19 14:35:54 .... Not sure I see what you mean...The way it reads is the way the character thinks. But thanks for your comments...always appreciated + Report this comment
Posted by Andy6 2008-08-20 08:18:09 .... Thought i would give you a read after you were positive about one of my pieces and i'm really glad i did. You have an easy, original style that i really dig, the imagery sucks you right in. Very human piece of work and a great character. I'll check more of yours out now. Nice one! + Report this comment
Posted by Something Indecent 2008-08-23 23:33:29 Nicely done R.E. I remember reading this because I liked it so much. I'm glad you reposted it so I could revisit. I love your character. You really painted him in well. Nicely done R.E. + Report this comment
Posted by Cornys 2008-11-17 17:52:47 Cool I like your third person storys better but this is still good. Not funny but i still liked it. realistic I might add. I never saw the old version but this one is good ~ Cornys ~ + Report this comment

Post a comment

Post a comment