Vic's Place

VIC’S PLACE by JOHN M. ARRIBAS When I come to I’ll start a new path The one I’m on solicits her wrath When the alarm went off I moved not an inch If I opened my eyes a brawl was a cinch I felt her rise and move to the edge of the bed I kept my eyes shut as if I were dead She dressed quite noisily but before slamming the door Yelled out no drinking today I can’t take it anymore She went to the kitchen and started to brew The aroma of coffee nearly caused me to spew She came back to the bedroom and said with a smirk I know you heard what I said got to, I’m late for work I knew not to move too quickly My head was pounding my stomach sickly When you’re hung over everything aches I got up and stumbled uncontrollable shakes My head was throbbing with alcohol woes With great difficulty I put on my clothes I went to the basin to wash and to brush The face in the mirror a blurry eyed lush I went to the kitchen and poured me a cup One sip, I gagged and nearly threw up Got to get to Vic’s its not very far I’ll have to walk it a DUI cost me my car I looked at the clock it was only ten Two hours til Vic’s is open again I went to the park and bided my time Til the light burns bright on the open sign I was so edgy I paced back and forth Shaking and nervous no time for remorse I’ll wait no matter how long it takes I’ve got to dampen these terrible shakes I feel like I’ve been waiting for an eon Here we go, they turned on the neon Vic’s place(2) I raced across the street and mounted a stool To wait this long is brutal and cruel Pour me a shot and leave me the bottle These storming DTs, I’ve got to throttle After the first drink I felt like king After the fourth one I started to sing Soon I was joined by the usual crowd We sang, yelled and really got loud Some drank too much and wanted to fight I don’t remember much more but later that night I awoke it was quiet and dark I was lying in the wet grass alone the park It must have rained I was soaked to the skin My shirt was torn had a cut on my chin As I staggered home missing one shoe I knew exactly what I will have to do She’ll put me on the wagon I know what’s in store I can handle it easily I’ve done it many times before