segment 44

Flynn’s was quiet and empty of the college students getting ready to return to school.  Gene was at one of the bistro tables.  He wore a velvet blazer and had his hair slicked back. They hugged and Ala sat next to him rather than across.  He had started with scotch, which was never a good sign.

“How long did you stay at the party?”

“About a half hour.”

“How was the lady?”

“A slut.”

“Gene—”

“She’s attached. Forgot to mention it.  Humiliating.”

Gene had drank since they were in middle school.  He drank even when he had practice or when he was sick.  Alcoholism didn’t run in his family.  It was something he had adopted on his own.

Everyone was tight lipped about the situation until he became of age.  Now, his parents and most of his friends treated him as a social drinker.  Ala knew the seriousness of the situation. She didn’t need to address it.  Gene knew he was sick and that someday, he would have to get help.

For now though, Ala felt she was in no position to tell anyone how they should live.  She barely recognized who she was, even from a year ago.  Some mid-century pop song came on and she remembered their homecoming dance freshman year.  She knew Gene wanted to ask her to go with him and she purposely avoided the question.  She couldn’t remember how she phrased it, only that is was clear she wanted nothing to do with being his date.