Day 56 - Three O’Clock in the Morning

Three O’Clock in the Morning

Matthew Ryan Fischer

 

The ashtrays were full. A half-smoked, half-chewed cigar remained on the metal patio table. The outdoor couch was and stained from an errant spilled drink. There were random cards on the patio and a few dominoes in-between couch cushions and someone tried and failed at their attempt to things up. There were at least a dozen red cups spread around, in various states of fullness. At least two had cigarettes floating in them.

The outdoor lights had been left on. A potted plant had been knocked over in the yard. Some succulents had been trampled. Someone had let their dog go the bathroom and failed to clean it up. Rinds of oranges and lemons and limes were scattered about. A crushed watermelon lay on the walk, sticky smears on the wall of the garage. Behind the garage was the legacy of men too impatient to go inside and wait in line for the bathroom. There was also a condom, a different sort of legacy left behind.

The sink was full. One side with dishes. The other with some sort of red punch concoction and the last of the rum-soaked fruit. It was impossible to tell if or when the two sides were intermixed. The dishwasher was full. The recycling bin was full. The counters were covered with beer bottles, wine glasses and platters of snacks. There were half-eaten trays of pizza rolls on top of the stove. Something had exploded in the microwave.

There had been too many people there. There were still too many people there, but the party was long over. Someone was curled up in the corner of the living room. Someone else was asleep in the bathtub.

Dave’s head was already beginning to hurt. Drunk, but hungover. A terrible combination. He would have gone to bed, but someone was in his room and he didn’t have the energy necessary to take care of that yet. He leaned forward on the couch and rubbed his neck, but after his stomach started to churn, he had to lean back. Taking deep breaths, he tried to focus on anything other than the spinning room.

Braden and Sean were high and laughing at YouTube videos in the other room. Dave simultaneously felt jealousy and hatred. He needed sleep but envied their ability to still be going strong.