Chapter Five

A few minutes after Tommy had left, CK picked himself off of the booth seat, grabbed his beer, and proceeded to walk over to the bar, taking a seat on a stool fairly close to the television seat. He started watching the tv, but didn’t pay much attention to the program that was playing at the time, one which Kenny was watching from the end of the barr, not bothered by the fact that the sound barely reached him. The tv was one of the only noises in the bar, accompanied only by the constant whir of an old rusty metal fan sitting under the bar, attempting to banish the hot thick air that blew in through the open doorway every time someone entered or exited the bar. Kenny, rather than paying attention to the set, was lost in his own thoughts. He thought of Tommy and Mindy, and how much had changed since he had started going to college. He knew he had talked of dropping out of college, but secretly knew that he would never go through with it. He realized it wouldn’t make any sense to drop out in his final year. He would make it through the final year, then do who knows what. Lost in thought, CK finished his beer and absently ordered a whiskey, much to the appreciation of Kenny, who grunted after he received the order, his way of showing of his approval of the order. Kenny served him his drink, and CK took a sip, while the current program ended and the evening news came on. After a few stories of the farmers hurt by the new tax imposed on their crops, a story about a man who hitchhiked across the country came on. CK began to actually pay attention to the set, interested by the story, Apparently the man was a wealthy landowner, who, at the spir of the moment, decided to hitchhike across the great states, much to the disapproval of his wife. When he finally returned, his wife murdered him in his sleep, for she had found a new lover. She then proceeded to run with her lover, but they died in a car crash on the interstate. CK watched intently, but after the story finished he returned his attention to the drink in front of enny, who had also been watching the story, picked up his rag and prepared to begin the cleaning of the bar ritual, but made one comment on the story.

“Funny ain’t it.” Kenny said, addressing CK.

“Hmm?” CK said, confused “oh yeah, funny.” realizing what Kenny was referring to. Kenny grunted, and CK thought about the story. To him, it wasn’t funny at all, but sad and intriguing. He concluded that the story was a perfect representation of what he was missing in life. CK downed his drink, and paid his tab. He grabbed his coat, and walked out of the bar, into the now cool night. He paused briefly, looking at all the stars visible that clear night, and proceeded to walk home. It wasn’t a long walk, but CK took his time, pacing slowly with his hands deep in his pockets and eyes on the sky. Arriving at his childhood home, he walked up the gravel driveway, kicking a few rocks against the rust worn gutter along the way. He opened the door, which was never locked, the town a very safe and trusting place to live, and stepped into the hallway. He could hear the tv still blaring, but he guessed that his mother had already fallen asleep in front of it. He climbed up the stairs, accompanied by the well known creaks, and walked to his room, which had remained unchanged. He lay down in his now too small twin bed and promptly fell asleep.

The next morning he woke up feeling no worse for wear, even though the large amount of drinking he had done. However, he did wake up feeling a bit foggy, and walked downstairs to get a cup of coffee. His mother was in the kitchen fixing breakfast when he walked in, heading towards the coffee pot that was half full, sitting on the granite counter top.

“Good morning CK” His mom said brightly. She was a morning person, always had been, and seldom was the occasion where anyone else woke up before her. CKs father was the opposite, usually sleeping to noon.

“Morning mom” CK said, pouring himself a cup of coffee. He liked it black with sugar, but didn’t drink it often. He walked to the fridge, pulled out the milk and a bowl from the cupboard and poured himself a bowl of cereal. Mind clearing after a few sips of his coffee, he took a seat in the living room, flicking on the tv, which was playing cartoons. He absently ate his cereal, and thought about the night before. He especially thought about the new story, and made up his mind to hitchhike back to college when he left. He made the decision unusually quickly, to him it seemed like the only thing to do.