A charming little girl wakes up at midnight. With a perplex look on her face, she comes out to see the commotion that woke her up from deep sleep.
She sees her mother in the front porch, nagging at a man seated in a chair while picking up empty bottles scattered on the floor. The girl helped the mother clean up the mess.
The man was vocally unresponsive but kept nodding. She continued picking up not looking at the man thinking he might have just chosen to keep quiet instead of yelling back at her mother.
Suddenly she hears a loud snore which made her jump from where she stood. She looked around with fear but sees nothing. The mother silently laughed at her reaction and told her to go back to sleep. The girl hurriedly ran back to bed and curled her body like a worm under her thick blanket.
Days, months, years flew with the wind like ashes. The girl grew bigger and kept seeing the same scenario every time people gather around their home during parties and other special occasions.
Alcoholic drinks are always served in the men's table. Not only one but more than two boxes every time. The girl kept seeing that man sitting in the chair, nodding to someone as if showing his full support. The other person talks to him, starting to release his sentiments. The man just kept nodding.
The girl grew up and started to understand. That man was her father. He is a good person, no issues, no other vices but drinks a lot. You can say he's an alcoholic, a regular drinker of rum. But this man only drinks after a long day from working on different things at home.
He has retired from work long time ago and stayed home getting busy with making furniture and improving the house. He never stops moving because it keeps him active. He doesn't want to just sit and do nothing at all. In short, he always wants his day productive.
That man only drinks (according to him) because it relaxes his muscles from long day of heavy work. But believe me, he works everyday but only drinks on weekends or special occasions and with the company of other men in the family. It's his only way to unwind.
So, as the girl turned into a woman, she found out her father has slept in the chair every time he consumes enough alcohol. One time she asked her father why he is asleep even in front of the others while the drinking is still on going. His answer is that maybe that's how his body responds to the effect of alcohol. It shuts his eyes but he is actually conscious. He can hear people around him talking, he even watch television with his eyes shut because of his drunkenness. Then eventually falls asleep without warning.
She remembered that night when she jumped from a very loud snore. She thought it was something from the dark woods around their home. Eventually, she realized it was her father after all.
That man is my father and I was that little girl.
First attempt: around 11 p.m. (estimate) Philippine time July 2, 2020.
FAILED! I fell asleep upon writing this using my phone and alarm clock as timer.
Second Attempt
Deleted last night's text and started all over again.
Time : 10:10 a.m. - 10: 20 a.m. July 3, 2020 Philippine time
Device: Computer
Timer: Stop watch on my phone
Grammar Checked: Online Editor - Grammar Checker (free)
Took a little while to proofread and polish two grammar errors.
Not translated.
Preparing for 3rd entry (as I challenge myself to write again)
Nice one. Your story is nice, almost sad but all the same very interesting. I used it to take a small leak into the mind of an alcoholic