drunken realizations

It all started with a rum and coke: not my usual choice, but I was feeling chic.A large yellow sign on the table read Happiness is a margarita. I couldnt resist, I needed a picture. I rumaged through my overlarge purse, pulling things out in the hunt for my camera. I took the shot, ate my food, sipped my rum and headed to the movies with my friend - laughs, giggles, inside jokes, candy then back to the car for our 1 A.M departure home. That's when I found out that my keys were not in my purse. I hunted tirelessly for them, panic insueing. "Hey let's check our pictures from chevy's and see if you put them down on my table." My friend's voice had a tinge of annoyance. We looked, and sure enough, there they were in the far left corner of the picture of the sign stating that happiness is a margarita. My friend takes me home, and I sleep, not worried becuase my worrier is broken.

I wake up early and make breakfast, musing over my options. I can call someone to take me to my keys and my car but I hate to cause inconvenience. I can wait til my mom gets home and use her car, but I can't be sure what time she will get home at. I could ride my bike...yeah that one sounds good. What? that's a long way to ride? Yeah but then I'll be self sufficient. No I don't have a problem relying on other people.

I halfheartedly call my sister to see if she's home: she's not. I load my bike and set off. The sun is warm against my skin. I huff and puff up long winding roads and gradual hills and past freeways and past ponds and past rivers. I get my keys and have to go back the way I came. I get to my car and unlock the door. I then pull out my water bottle and drink clumsily. A noise to my right. I look over and a guy is leaning out of his red sedan getting sick. I quickly get back to the task at hand: shoving my bike into the car. I push and pull and cajole and beg and twist and make noises. Nothing helps. I need to step back from the situation. The guy in the red car is back in his car but he just sits there, window open, staring straight ahead. That's it. I need to take the wheel off. I had never done that before but it wasn't too difficult. pop. I slide the bike into the car, close the door, and sit in my own car, windows up, air conditioner on. The guy and I are temporarily in sync with each other. I sigh and slowly pull out, driving home. 2:00 by the time I get home. I eat, dress, and arrive at work five minutes late. That's why I was late today, sir. It won't happen again.