15. Poor Devin, Poor Devin, Pour Devin another
Mikey was sitting in the clubhouse when he read Devin’s message. He smiled. Had his son forgotten that he drove himself to the golf course? Mikey had noticed Devin seemed worried and preoccupied lately. He thought he knew why.
Looking up from his phone, he poured himself another beer from the pitcher and said to his golf buddies, “Poor Devin. Girl troubles. I’ll need to have a talk and a beer with that boy when I get home.”
Today I will remember cluelessness sometimes comes in liquid form.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Ken-Montrose/e/B001K8MG0S
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
14. I'd Rather Hurt You Than See You Get Hurt
Accross town Devin sat next to his girlfriend on the custom designed couch in her den. He stared at his phone, mulling over his options. Lori, who he'd been dating for two years, squeezed his forearm and pointed at his phone. "Text him," she said almost whispering. "You'll feel better if you do."
Devin shook his head. "If I offer him a ride, knowing he drove himself, it's like accusing him of driving drunk. He might be insulted, he'll probably be hurt."
"Or," Lori said, stroking his arm,"he might accept your offer. If he doesn't, and something happens, at least you tried." There was a long silence as Devin thought about what might happen.
Devin texted his father: Do you want me to pick you up?
Today I won't ignore a problem to save someone's pride.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Ken-Montrose/e/B001K8MG0S
Accross town Devin sat next to his girlfriend on the custom designed couch in her den. He stared at his phone, mulling over his options. Lori, who he'd been dating for two years, squeezed his forearm and pointed at his phone. "Text him," she said almost whispering. "You'll feel better if you do."
Devin shook his head. "If I offer him a ride, knowing he drove himself, it's like accusing him of driving drunk. He might be insulted, he'll probably be hurt."
"Or," Lori said, stroking his arm,"he might accept your offer. If he doesn't, and something happens, at least you tried." There was a long silence as Devin thought about what might happen.
Devin texted his father: Do you want me to pick you up?
Today I won't ignore a problem to save someone's pride.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Ken-Montrose/e/B001K8MG0S
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
13. Bass Bite
“You know they don’t stock these golf course ponds, right?” Derrick asked. “There’s nothing in there but sunfish and frogs. Only an idiot would fish here.”
Maybe the huge largemouth bass heard Derrick’s tone and took an instant dislike to him. More likely he was fooled by Corey’s spinnerbait because he’d never seen one before. Nobody fished his pond. In either case, he rushed from his hiding place and attacked the lure. A few minutes later he’d been photographed, and released back into the water, confused but a little more wary.
“You gotta love nature,” Corey said. “Ain’t it great when the deer don’t dart in front of your car? Or, the rain holds off until after the game? The sun shines on someone’s wedding day? How about when the bass bite? You gotta love when the bass bite.”
Today I will be grateful when nature cooperates.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Ken-Montrose/e/B001K8MG0S
“You know they don’t stock these golf course ponds, right?” Derrick asked. “There’s nothing in there but sunfish and frogs. Only an idiot would fish here.”
Maybe the huge largemouth bass heard Derrick’s tone and took an instant dislike to him. More likely he was fooled by Corey’s spinnerbait because he’d never seen one before. Nobody fished his pond. In either case, he rushed from his hiding place and attacked the lure. A few minutes later he’d been photographed, and released back into the water, confused but a little more wary.
“You gotta love nature,” Corey said. “Ain’t it great when the deer don’t dart in front of your car? Or, the rain holds off until after the game? The sun shines on someone’s wedding day? How about when the bass bite? You gotta love when the bass bite.”
Today I will be grateful when nature cooperates.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Ken-Montrose/e/B001K8MG0S
Monday, April 25, 2016
12. Annoyingly Happy
By the tenth hole, Mikey was up three strokes and two beers on his friend Jerome. Derrick had matched Mikey beer for beer, but was five strokes back. He cursed his putting and the slow moving foursome ahead of them.
Corey had downed a drink in the clubhouse, but none on the course. He was ten strokes behind. When they had to wait to tee off, Corey pulled out a telescoping fishing rod and cast a lure into a pond.
“Are you gonna fish or golf?” Derrick demanded, sitting on the cart, glaring at his shoes, beer in hand. “No damn wonder you suck at this.”
Corey smiled. He loved golf and fishing, even though he wasn’t particularly good at either. Annoying Derrick was just the icing on the cake.
Today I’ll annoy someone with my happiness.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
By the tenth hole, Mikey was up three strokes and two beers on his friend Jerome. Derrick had matched Mikey beer for beer, but was five strokes back. He cursed his putting and the slow moving foursome ahead of them.
Corey had downed a drink in the clubhouse, but none on the course. He was ten strokes behind. When they had to wait to tee off, Corey pulled out a telescoping fishing rod and cast a lure into a pond.
“Are you gonna fish or golf?” Derrick demanded, sitting on the cart, glaring at his shoes, beer in hand. “No damn wonder you suck at this.”
Corey smiled. He loved golf and fishing, even though he wasn’t particularly good at either. Annoying Derrick was just the icing on the cake.
Today I’ll annoy someone with my happiness.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Sunday, April 24, 2016
11. The Road to Success
Tiffany tortured the tuba for another hour. Sheila smiled, remembering five years of violin lessons her mother had forced her to take.
Her violin teacher had said hitting the first right note was like putting down a single stepping stone. The next right note was another stone. With practice, right notes would follow each other, like stones landing closer together. Soon enough notes played in a row would form a scale. Stepping stones would become a paved path. In time the notes would make a song. The path would widen to a road.
"How far you go depends on how many paving stones you place," Sheila's teacher had said. "Practice, my dear, practice paves the road to success."
Tiffany tortured the tuba for another hour. Sheila smiled, remembering five years of violin lessons her mother had forced her to take.
Her violin teacher had said hitting the first right note was like putting down a single stepping stone. The next right note was another stone. With practice, right notes would follow each other, like stones landing closer together. Soon enough notes played in a row would form a scale. Stepping stones would become a paved path. In time the notes would make a song. The path would widen to a road.
"How far you go depends on how many paving stones you place," Sheila's teacher had said. "Practice, my dear, practice paves the road to success."
Today I will remember the road to success starts out as stepping stones placed closer and closer together until they become a path, and finally a highway.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:
Thursday, April 21, 2016
10. Tuba,
or Not Tuba, (That is the Question)
At the
first blast of the tuba, Repugnant jumped onto Sheila’s lap. Repulsive hid behind her legs, looking like
he might cough up a hairball.
A month
earlier, the band instructor had suggested Tiffany play the flute. He’d meant no offense, and had been surprised
when Tiffany barked out that she would be playing the tuba.
Sheila
smiled. Tiffany had a heart mostly of gold.
The band director had rattled the chain link fence surrounding the tiny
corner of her heart where the junkyard dog lived. “He doesn’t think I’m big enough to play
tuba!” she had told her mother.
“Tiffany’s good
at a lot of things,” Sheila said to the animals.
“Tuba may not be one of them. We’ll
have to be patient with her.” The tuba
stopped and Sheila heard Tiffany swear. “Language!” she yelled, thinking, ‘I
hope she can be patient with herself.’ She
admired her daughter for tackling the difficult when so much came easily to
her.
Today
I’ll try something difficult.
Mikey,
Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey,
Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any
resemblance between the characters and anyone you might know is purely
coincidental.
Other works by Ken
Montrose are available at:
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
9. I'm Doing this for Me and You, but Mostly Me
Sheila heard the garage door open when Mikey left. She looked at the clock, then instantly regretted it. Sheila had complained for years about the time he spent golfing and drinking. All she had gotten for her trouble was frustration and a resentful husband.
The answer,' Sheila thought, 'isn't to nag him into being more responsible. The answer is to take care of myself, no matter what Mikey does.' At least that's what she'd been told. She'd also been told taking care of herself might mean being less bound to Mikey. Having nobody to rescue him might help him in the long run. Sitting in her living room, keenly aware of how much she loved Mikey, she started a 'to do' list. Her first item was to get separate car insurance policies.
Today I will take care of myself, for my sake, and the sake of my loved ones.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Ken-Montrose/e/B001K8MG0S
Sheila heard the garage door open when Mikey left. She looked at the clock, then instantly regretted it. Sheila had complained for years about the time he spent golfing and drinking. All she had gotten for her trouble was frustration and a resentful husband.
The answer,' Sheila thought, 'isn't to nag him into being more responsible. The answer is to take care of myself, no matter what Mikey does.' At least that's what she'd been told. She'd also been told taking care of herself might mean being less bound to Mikey. Having nobody to rescue him might help him in the long run. Sitting in her living room, keenly aware of how much she loved Mikey, she started a 'to do' list. Her first item was to get separate car insurance policies.
Today I will take care of myself, for my sake, and the sake of my loved ones.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Ken-Montrose/e/B001K8MG0S
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
8. Dumb Luck
By 3:45 Mikey had finished five beers. Seeing the time, he jumped to his feet. "I'm gonna be late!" he said to Repulsive, as he hurried from the basement to the garage. "Shoulda left by 3:30." He scowled when he saw the closed garage door. Sheila, his wife, would hear him leaving. She'd know exactly how long he'd been gone when he got back. 'Just my luck,' he thought.'No drinks in the clubhouse today.'
On the drive to the course, Mikey ran a stop sign. A cop saw him, but was busy writing a speeding ticket for another driver. Traffic on the highway crawled along as people slowed to see the aftermath of an accident fifteen minutes old. Once again, Mikey cursed his luck. The kid driving the car behind Mikey texted his girlfriend he was going to be late. He missed hitting Mikey's bumper by an inch.
When Mikey got to the golf course, he stubbed his toe on the curb, and cursed the bad luck following him everywhere.
Today I may never know how lucky I really was, or wasn't.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblence between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Ken-Montrose/e/B001K8MG0S
By 3:45 Mikey had finished five beers. Seeing the time, he jumped to his feet. "I'm gonna be late!" he said to Repulsive, as he hurried from the basement to the garage. "Shoulda left by 3:30." He scowled when he saw the closed garage door. Sheila, his wife, would hear him leaving. She'd know exactly how long he'd been gone when he got back. 'Just my luck,' he thought.'No drinks in the clubhouse today.'
On the drive to the course, Mikey ran a stop sign. A cop saw him, but was busy writing a speeding ticket for another driver. Traffic on the highway crawled along as people slowed to see the aftermath of an accident fifteen minutes old. Once again, Mikey cursed his luck. The kid driving the car behind Mikey texted his girlfriend he was going to be late. He missed hitting Mikey's bumper by an inch.
When Mikey got to the golf course, he stubbed his toe on the curb, and cursed the bad luck following him everywhere.
Today I may never know how lucky I really was, or wasn't.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblence between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Ken-Montrose/e/B001K8MG0S
Monday, April 18, 2016
7. By Jiminy: Kicking the Sleeping Conscience
After Devin left, Mikey picked up the remote. He hit the button to return to the last channel watched. After a few seconds, Mikey muttered to himself, and pushed the return button again. "Repugnant,"he said to the dog, "that boy kick starts my conscience almost every time I see him. Love him, but he's killing my buzz."
He watched the rest of the documentary on the War of 1812.
Today I'll be grateful for people who awaken my conscience.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Ken-Montrose/e/B001K8MG0S
After Devin left, Mikey picked up the remote. He hit the button to return to the last channel watched. After a few seconds, Mikey muttered to himself, and pushed the return button again. "Repugnant,"he said to the dog, "that boy kick starts my conscience almost every time I see him. Love him, but he's killing my buzz."
He watched the rest of the documentary on the War of 1812.
Today I'll be grateful for people who awaken my conscience.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Ken-Montrose/e/B001K8MG0S
Sunday, April 17, 2016
6. The Genuine Article
Devin stared at the TV for a minute. "You can go back to watching Skin-e-max, Dad," Devin said, smirking.
"It's called Cinemax, and I was watching this documentary on the Revolutionary War," Mikey said as he turned a little red.
Devin watched a few minutes more, then said, "Andrew Jackson defeated the British outside of New Orleans in the War of 1812." With a sad chuckle, he added, " You're not fooling anyone, old man."
For the second time that morning Mikey felt a shadow of doubt cross his heart. Was his son really talking about his TV viewing habits? Or did Devin sense Mikey's budding fear he wasn't the genuine article anymore, he no longer was the father/husband/boss he had been. "Grab me another beer, will ya kid?"
Today I will try to live a genuine life, not pretending to be something I'm not.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Ken-Montrose/e/B001K8MG0S
Devin stared at the TV for a minute. "You can go back to watching Skin-e-max, Dad," Devin said, smirking.
"It's called Cinemax, and I was watching this documentary on the Revolutionary War," Mikey said as he turned a little red.
Devin watched a few minutes more, then said, "Andrew Jackson defeated the British outside of New Orleans in the War of 1812." With a sad chuckle, he added, " You're not fooling anyone, old man."
For the second time that morning Mikey felt a shadow of doubt cross his heart. Was his son really talking about his TV viewing habits? Or did Devin sense Mikey's budding fear he wasn't the genuine article anymore, he no longer was the father/husband/boss he had been. "Grab me another beer, will ya kid?"
Today I will try to live a genuine life, not pretending to be something I'm not.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Ken-Montrose/e/B001K8MG0S
Thursday, April 14, 2016
5. Annoyingly Kind-Hearted
Mikey thought his search for nude scenes was about to bear fruit when he heard his teenage son clomping down the basement stairs. He quickly switched to the History Channel.
"Hey guys," Devin said. Repugnant jumped up, wagging his tail furiously. Repulsive started purring. Devin reached down and scratched two sets of ears. Repugnant rolled over to have his belly rubbed. "Dad, don't forget Tiffany has a soccer game tomorrow."
Mikey wanted to scream. He got it. He'd missed Tiffany's play. She had been devastated. The fight with his wife had been epic. His rage passed quickly. He knew Devin was looking out for him, his mother, and his little sister. Miss the soccer game and the house would explode. 'God bless the kind hearted,' Mikey thought, 'no matter how annoying they might be.'
He drained his beer and said,"I won't forget."
Today I will be grateful for kind-hearted people, no matter how annoying they might be.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Ken-Montrose/e/B001K8MG0S
Mikey thought his search for nude scenes was about to bear fruit when he heard his teenage son clomping down the basement stairs. He quickly switched to the History Channel.
"Hey guys," Devin said. Repugnant jumped up, wagging his tail furiously. Repulsive started purring. Devin reached down and scratched two sets of ears. Repugnant rolled over to have his belly rubbed. "Dad, don't forget Tiffany has a soccer game tomorrow."
Mikey wanted to scream. He got it. He'd missed Tiffany's play. She had been devastated. The fight with his wife had been epic. His rage passed quickly. He knew Devin was looking out for him, his mother, and his little sister. Miss the soccer game and the house would explode. 'God bless the kind hearted,' Mikey thought, 'no matter how annoying they might be.'
He drained his beer and said,"I won't forget."
Today I will be grateful for kind-hearted people, no matter how annoying they might be.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Ken-Montrose/e/B001K8MG0S
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
4. I Want Logic
Mikey picked up the TV remote and began wading for through all 540 of his cable provider's gold package channels. He liked to say all those choices kept him well-rounded and informed. Mostly he watched each channel for five minutes or so until he got to the premium movie channels. There he'd hesitate long enough to judge the liklihood of a nude scene occurring in the next several minutes.
He glanced at the clock above the wet bar he'd built himself. 10:00 a.m. Two hours until he'd pour himself a beer. Only alcoholics drank before noon, he told himself. I don't, therefore, I can't be an alcoholic. Simple logic, and true no matter what that worm in Human Resources said.
Two hours later he poured his first beer of the day and said aloud, "Simple logic." He wanted to believe his logic, but the nagging suspicion he was kidding himself hung over him like a lagging awning full of water on a stormy day. It wasn't until he finished his second beer he believed his own reasoning.
Today I will beware of how my wants can twist my logic.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblence between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Ken-Montrose/e/B001K8MG0S
Mikey picked up the TV remote and began wading for through all 540 of his cable provider's gold package channels. He liked to say all those choices kept him well-rounded and informed. Mostly he watched each channel for five minutes or so until he got to the premium movie channels. There he'd hesitate long enough to judge the liklihood of a nude scene occurring in the next several minutes.
He glanced at the clock above the wet bar he'd built himself. 10:00 a.m. Two hours until he'd pour himself a beer. Only alcoholics drank before noon, he told himself. I don't, therefore, I can't be an alcoholic. Simple logic, and true no matter what that worm in Human Resources said.
Two hours later he poured his first beer of the day and said aloud, "Simple logic." He wanted to believe his logic, but the nagging suspicion he was kidding himself hung over him like a lagging awning full of water on a stormy day. It wasn't until he finished his second beer he believed his own reasoning.
Today I will beware of how my wants can twist my logic.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblence between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Ken-Montrose/e/B001K8MG0S
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
3. For You, My Friend
Mikey lifted Repugnant onto the couch. He curled up next to Mikey, his head resting against Mikey's leg. Repulsive strolled across the back of the couch and jumped down next to Repugnant. He rubbed his face against Repugnant's neck. The pug lifted his head and wagged his tail.
Mikey had gotten Repugnant as a puppy from a nearby shelter. A year earlier a fully grown Repulsive had wandered onto the deck every day for an entire summer. When the weather had turned cool, the cat had moved indoors. Mikey and his wife had worried a puppy might annoy an older cat. Within a week Repulsive put their fears to rest by paying Repugnant the highest cat compliment. He dropped a dead mouse at the puppy's feet.
Today I will be grateful for unexpected friendships.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Ken-Montrose/e/B001K8MG0S
Mikey lifted Repugnant onto the couch. He curled up next to Mikey, his head resting against Mikey's leg. Repulsive strolled across the back of the couch and jumped down next to Repugnant. He rubbed his face against Repugnant's neck. The pug lifted his head and wagged his tail.
Mikey had gotten Repugnant as a puppy from a nearby shelter. A year earlier a fully grown Repulsive had wandered onto the deck every day for an entire summer. When the weather had turned cool, the cat had moved indoors. Mikey and his wife had worried a puppy might annoy an older cat. Within a week Repulsive put their fears to rest by paying Repugnant the highest cat compliment. He dropped a dead mouse at the puppy's feet.
Today I will be grateful for unexpected friendships.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Ken-Montrose/e/B001K8MG0S
Monday, April 11, 2016
2. Repugnant
Mikey smiled, hearing the jingling tags on his dog's collar as the happy mutt waddled down the steps. Mikey felt a certain kinship with Repugnant, a rescue dog who looked like a cross between a pug and a cinder block. He hadn't been a handsome kid, and now resembled his dog.
Mikey rarely allowed himself to think about his looks. Too many bad memories. His father had been a vain and bitter man who never tired of ridiculing his son's appearance.
Mikey had discovered he loved booze during his freshman year in high school. By the end of his senior year alcohol was his sanctuary, an escape from his father's relentless tormenting.
Mikey smiled, hearing the jingling tags on his dog's collar as the happy mutt waddled down the steps. Mikey felt a certain kinship with Repugnant, a rescue dog who looked like a cross between a pug and a cinder block. He hadn't been a handsome kid, and now resembled his dog.
Mikey rarely allowed himself to think about his looks. Too many bad memories. His father had been a vain and bitter man who never tired of ridiculing his son's appearance.
Mikey had discovered he loved booze during his freshman year in high school. By the end of his senior year alcohol was his sanctuary, an escape from his father's relentless tormenting.
Today I will be careful with my words, not wanting to give someone another reason to drink.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:
Sunday, April 10, 2016
1. Mikey and Repulsive
Mikey sat up too fast in bed and felt his head swim. He smiled. He had a plan. Easy tasks first to get his mojo going, build momentum for the harder stuff. He'd be a new man, the kind who didn't forget his kid's school play. Mikey slipped into running shorts and a matching shirt he'd bought to start his new life. He padded downstairs to his basement to get his laptop.
"Today is the day, 'Pulse," he said to the cat he'd named Repulsive. Easy task #1, get rid of junk. He emptied the laptop's waste basket. "Single step, thousand mile journey, 'Pulse." He opened his email. Delete, delete, delete. His phone beeped, a message from Calvin: '4:00, 18 holes, I'm bringing the cooler.'
He couldn't golf on Sunday, it was supposed to rain. Tomorrow would be a much better day to start over. He'd get the ball rolling on Sunday, and pick up speed at work on Monday.
"Tomorrow is the day," Mike said to Repulsive as he closed his laptop. It was a decision he'd regret.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Mikey sat up too fast in bed and felt his head swim. He smiled. He had a plan. Easy tasks first to get his mojo going, build momentum for the harder stuff. He'd be a new man, the kind who didn't forget his kid's school play. Mikey slipped into running shorts and a matching shirt he'd bought to start his new life. He padded downstairs to his basement to get his laptop.
"Today is the day, 'Pulse," he said to the cat he'd named Repulsive. Easy task #1, get rid of junk. He emptied the laptop's waste basket. "Single step, thousand mile journey, 'Pulse." He opened his email. Delete, delete, delete. His phone beeped, a message from Calvin: '4:00, 18 holes, I'm bringing the cooler.'
He couldn't golf on Sunday, it was supposed to rain. Tomorrow would be a much better day to start over. He'd get the ball rolling on Sunday, and pick up speed at work on Monday.
"Tomorrow is the day," Mike said to Repulsive as he closed his laptop. It was a decision he'd regret.
Today is the day.
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant (c) 2016 by Ken Montrose
Mikey, Repulsive, and Repugnant is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Other works by Ken Montrose are available at:
Thursday, April 7, 2016
I will start a new story on Monday. In the meantime, here's an excerpt from Home Groupies:
Sounds
fair to me
On the drive back to
work I thought again about life’s unfairness.
I mentally composed a list of everything I’d change if given the chance
to impose my judgement on the world.
I drove past a cop
parked on the side of the road. I was
going 50 mph in 30 mph zone. Someone
passed me. Then the cop passed me. My desire for absolute fairness passed as
well.
If life were fair,
consequences would follow crime. Every
time I drove too fast, I’d get caught. I
would have gotten a DUI every time I drove drunk. I didn’t want life to be fair, just kinder to
me.
I wanted to find $5 on
the ground, but never lose my wallet. I
didn’t want my friends to get sick. If
cancer couldn’t be eliminated, I’d accept it striking people on my list. And, I didn’t want the people on my list to
have any say about me getting cancer.
The more I thought
about it, the more I realized how twisted my idea of fairness was. I didn’t mind getting rewards I didn’t earn,
but I resented strangers who did. I had
no trouble deciding who did or didn’t deserve to win the lottery, had a spouse
too nice for him or her, or whose life was a little too charmed for my
tastes.
Today I will accept that life is unfair.
I will be glad I’m not in charge.
I will beware of how conveniently my wants
line up with my desire for “fairness.”
Home Groupies (c) 2009 by Ken Montrose
Available at: http://www.amazon.com/Ken-Montrose/e/B001K8MG0S
Available at: http://www.amazon.com/Ken-Montrose/e/B001K8MG0S
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
96. Missing You
Matey, DUI Dave, Marjorie, Andra, Norman, Terrence, and The Kid all moved on. To my surprise, I missed them. It made me think of all the people who passed through my life. Most I'd never get to know well enough to miss. I was grateful I'd gotten the chance to know them, at least a little.
My first sponsor had been explaining the AA slogan 'life on life's terms' when he said, "The more people you love, the more funerals you go to. Life's terms can seem harsh, but the people you miss the most are usually the people you were lucky enough to spend the most time with. Life's terms don't seem so harsh when you look at that way."
Matey, DUI Dave, Marjorie, Andra, Norman, Terrence, and The Kid all moved on. To my surprise, I missed them. It made me think of all the people who passed through my life. Most I'd never get to know well enough to miss. I was grateful I'd gotten the chance to know them, at least a little.
My first sponsor had been explaining the AA slogan 'life on life's terms' when he said, "The more people you love, the more funerals you go to. Life's terms can seem harsh, but the people you miss the most are usually the people you were lucky enough to spend the most time with. Life's terms don't seem so harsh when you look at that way."
Today I will be grateful for people I miss.
Sober Not Somber © 2015, 2016 by Ken Montrose
(Just a reminder: Sober Not Somber is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the characters and someone you might know is purely coincidental.)
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
95. Away All Boats!
I never got to know The Kid very well, but I ran into him
years later at a gas station. He had
stayed clean and sober.
“It tore my heart out, but I got far away from my family,”
he said. “You know what opened my eyes?
An old war movie. The captain of this
merchant ship insisted they weren’t in any danger right up until the German torpedo
hit. The sailors swam away so they
wouldn’t get caught in the undertow when the ship sank. My family was like that ship, cruising along,
refusing to see they were in dangerous waters. The only difference between me
and those sailors is I didn’t wait for the ship to get torpedoed.”
Today I
won’t wait for the torpedo.
Sober Not Somber © 2015, 2016 by Ken Montrose
(Just a reminder: Sober Not Somber is a work of
fiction. Any resemblance between the
characters and someone you might know is purely coincidental.)
Monday, April 4, 2016
94. Hold The Door
On Andra's last day she told me she was having dinner with her deceased sister's ex-husband and his new wife. He had invited Andra to dinner every year on her birthday since the accident. Every year she had made excuses not to go, including the three years she had been sober.
"Ken, I thought seeing him would just be too sad," Andra said. "Even after I rejected his offer time and again, he held the door open for me. Now I realize why. He wanted me to see what was on the other side of my grief. He wanted me to bounce back the way he had. I was so rude to him. I'm so grateful he waited for me to be ready to walk through that door."
On Andra's last day she told me she was having dinner with her deceased sister's ex-husband and his new wife. He had invited Andra to dinner every year on her birthday since the accident. Every year she had made excuses not to go, including the three years she had been sober.
"Ken, I thought seeing him would just be too sad," Andra said. "Even after I rejected his offer time and again, he held the door open for me. Now I realize why. He wanted me to see what was on the other side of my grief. He wanted me to bounce back the way he had. I was so rude to him. I'm so grateful he waited for me to be ready to walk through that door."
Today I will be grateful for people who hold doors open for me.
Sober Not Somber (c) 2015, 2016 by Ken Montrose
Sober Not Somber is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Other publications by Ken Montrose are available at: http://www.amazon.com/Ken-Montrose/e/B001K8MG0S
Sunday, April 3, 2016
93. Getting Started
I ran into Marjorie three years later. She had finally put together a year sober. Her friend had continued working on the campaign to warn kids about the dangers of binge drinking. She felt bad about not doing more while she was struggling to stay clean.
"Be proud you got a year sober," I said. "Lots of people never do. Besides, starting something good is usually the hard part. Keeping it going gives the rest of us a chance to help."
I ran into Marjorie three years later. She had finally put together a year sober. Her friend had continued working on the campaign to warn kids about the dangers of binge drinking. She felt bad about not doing more while she was struggling to stay clean.
"Be proud you got a year sober," I said. "Lots of people never do. Besides, starting something good is usually the hard part. Keeping it going gives the rest of us a chance to help."
If I can't start something good today, I will at least keep something good going.
Sober Not Somber (c) 2015, 2016 by Ken Montrose
Sober Not Somber is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to anyone you might know is purely coincidental.
Other publications available at: http://www.amazon.com/Ken-Montrose/e/B001K8MG0S
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