Where's My Car?
Years ago, before I had children, I woke up, or came to, whatever you want to call it—one dry eyelid scraped across an eyeball and I stared into the white freckled flesh of my husband’s shoulder. Okay, I was in the right bed. Tick that box. I turned my head and my brain skittered and slammed into the side of my skull. Ouch, that hurt. My other eye creaked open. So now, I was awake. It was light out. Really light, no mistaking it, it was daylight.
I needed more sleep but my bladder squawked, a taut elastic band, and my mouth tasted like a combination of dry corn flakes and moldy lemons. I sat up on the side of the bed. I was wearing one of my husband’s t-shirts. My clothes from last night lay in a tangled lump on the floor.
In the bathroom, I stared into the mirror. Under my puffy eyelids, two smears of mascara graced my upper cheeks like two polite black eyes. I guzzled a glass of water then held onto the sink for a moment, waiting for the water to go down into my stomach or come hurling back up.
I walked into the silent living room and looked out the window. Where’s my car? I craned my neck so I could see down into the parking lot to the spot next to the walkway, next to the playground, unit 501’s designated parking spot.
The bumper and side panel of my car were visible. I felt my breath expel, unaware that I’d been holding it. The car was there. Intact from what I could see. Someone (me?) had driven it home.
I went back to bed. My husband stirred in his sleep as I climbed in. He opened one eye to look at me. Didn’t smile. I lay my head on the pillow. My brain sloshed into a new position like fluid in a level.
I’m safe, I told myself. I’m okay. I didn’t do anything wrong. I closed my eyes. Then I started to remember.
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Now you know why I gave up drinking!Rest assured, I will be spending New Year’s Eve safely ensconced under my duvet. What should I watch tonight? Hit reply with your suggestions, or in the comments wherever you read this post.
The little story “Where’s My Car?” is from my book, An Empty Nest: A Summer of Stories. Click here for the free Ebook. Or if you prefer a paperback it’s available on Amazon.ca and Amazon.com
Do I want to hear your hangover stories? Hell, yea! Lemme have them.The books arrived!
There is nothing more exciting than the first batch of books fresh from the publisher. They arrived yesterday, before the official publication date! (which is tomorrow, January 1, 2024)
I am already shipping out signed copies, complete with my fancy bookmark. Let me know if you would like one.
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Odd Mom Out Ebook
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