SUMMER WITH THE SLUG RATS

“It’s The Engine Not The Caboose That Kills You.”

“Why is Mandy’s dad an idiot?” Brat Boy asked.

“Maybe idiot is too strong a word,” I said, “But back in the day he kicked his coke habit. Stayed clean for  years and figured a little booze couldn’t hurt.  Quickly became addicted, but decided drinking was tied to a craving for sugar. He ate candy bars by the fistful to stop the cravings. Didn’t work.

 “He tried cleanses, supplements, acupuncture, and hypnosis. He joined a rowing team, thinking he’d be OK if he sweated out the alcohol. Threw up on the guy sitting in front of him. Twice.”

“Yuck!” CharChar said, “I’d push him out of the boat.”

“You know what he won’t do?” I asked.

“Stop drinking?” Brat Boy asked.

“Stop drinking,” I agreed. “Deep down he knows he has to not pick up the first drink, but he keeps doing it.”

Today I won’t pick up the first one.

Summer with the Slug Rats © 2020 by Ken Montrose

Summer with the Slug Rats is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at: www.greenbriartraining.com https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/