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    Aditus
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Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 

The Lonely Heart Club – a prompt story - 2. Martin II #373

em>Prompt 373 – Creative
Tag – All Alone
You and your partner have been so busy lately that you have spent nearly no time alone. You are surprised when you find yourself being taken out on rowboat to the middle of the lake. Now that you are all alone together one of you feels the need to finally spill the beans. What is this conversation and how does your time alone on the lake end?

Martin sat at the bar and listened to Jessa singing Jessie J’s ‘Nobody’s Perfect’. She threw herself into the song as always, and he had to hide his grin behind a glass when he thought about how she hated this song. There would be ranting and violent cursing as soon as she was back in her dressing room. Maybe she’d even hurl her hairbrush again. No one knew why she hated the song so much and no one dared to ask.

“Screaming Eagle, Kentucky Spirit straight up.”

“Coming right away, Alan.” The bartender poured amber liquid into a glass, then took the dishtowel from his shoulder and polished the shiny top of the bar in front of the man, before he set the bourbon down before him.

The piano player turned a little on the barstool. Dark grey suit, definitely custom made, black dress shirt, no tie, IWC Pilot's Perpetual Calendar. Martin had a thing for expensive watches.

Alan took the glass in his hand and rolled it between his palms, before he closed his eyes and took a small sip. “You’re playing after her?” He still hadn’t open his eyes.

“Yes.”

“Could I make a request?”

“Sure. Just get one of those paper slips out of the box over there and write it down. Anna will bring it over to me.”

“I want you playing ‘James’ for me.”

“The Billy Joel song?”

“That’s the one. You know it?”

“There isn’t a Billy Joel song I don’t know.”

“Good.” Alan took another sip, and then turned so he faced Martin. He stared at him with eyes of the same color as the bourbon in his glass. “Listen, do you have a little time?”

Jessa was now singing ‘La Vie En Rose’. Martin rolled his eyes and looked at his watch. “Twenty minutes.”

“That will do. I thought you might like to know why I want you to play that song for me tonight.”

Martin signaled the bartender to bring him another red wine. He loved listening to people and their stories, even if it was at a place like this; it was almost a given that they didn’t have a happily-ever-after.

“My family had planned my life almost from the day I was born. As their only son, I had to excel in school, be a star on the local baseball team, and be friends with all the right people. After finishing high school, as valedictorian of course, I had to become a lawyer like my father. Eventually I’d marry a girl from another influential family, we’d have a son, and everything would repeat itself. It’s called family tradition.”

A wry grin appeared briefly on Alan’s face. “The only problem was I wanted to be a writer, my best friend was a guy who absolutely did not belong to the right circles, and I prefer boys over girls.

“For a short time I dreamed of a life free from my family’s expectations. Creative writing instead of law, Jack who was going to be a mechanic, in my bed and in my life instead of Naomi Michaels, the business major. Everything seemed possible.

“When my parents learned about this – well, let’s say they had their ways and means to finish that dream rather quickly.

“After weeks where I saw Jack only in school, I finally managed to sneak out one day. He took me out on a rowboat, but what I thought would be a romantic trip was Jack giving me an ultimatum. He rowed us to the middle of the lake and then he told me he would start training at the same garage where his brother was already working as a mechanic. The owner planned to retire in a few years and if everything went well Jack and his brother could buy him out. There was a college there, with a great English and creative writing program. We could move into a small apartment behind the garage the owner didn’t need.”

Alan’s hand trembled when he brought the glass to his lips. “I couldn’t do it. I didn’t have the guts.” He gulped down the rest of his bourbon. “This happened exactly twenty years ago.

“I followed my family’s dream for me. Today I am the successful lawyer and soon-to-be partner in my father’s law practice. I married Naomi and I divorced Naomi. We have a son who wants to be a comic artist. He is eight. If he still wants this when he is eighteen, I will make sure he gets to pursue his dream if it is the last thing I do.” The glass landed on the top of the bar with a hard thud.

“Today I looked up Jack. I called him and he told me he and his partner of ten years own a garage for custom made cars in this very town. He invited me to visit them.”

Martin saw the single tear running down Alan’s face. Jessa was playing her last song and he had to get ready to take her place behind the bar’s baby grand soon. “I’m going to play ‘James’ for you now.” He put his hand on Alan’s shoulder and squeezed it lightly. “Maybe after twenty years it’s time to go out there and follow your own dream.”

“Thank you.” Alan’s voice cracked. He held his empty glass up towards the bartender. “Another one, please.”

You said I should continue this, so I did. What do you think?
Copyright © 2016 aditus; All Rights Reserved.
  • Like 17
Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 
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Chapter Comments

"James, do you like your life?..."

THIS is why I like your writing! Ya'll have commented about how wrenching some of my little stories have been and you just did the same thing. Sadness, frustration, pity they all hit me so quickly that I was ready to spin. Why do some people allow their relatives to dictate their lives. I almost fell into my mother's designs and then I woke up, changed schools, changed majors and came out of the closet. And the only thing I regret is not doing it sooner.

James is playing in my head, always loved that tune.

And, after reading the comment about marrying, having a son and the son doing it all over again--this litle thing came to mind.

I think you and I can have fun with the soundtrack when we get together at the bar! :D

  • Like 1

I am glad you continued. The story of Alan's past was really sad. He had a choice to pursue his dreams, to live his life with Jack but he couldn't and knowing about his circumstances it's understandable. I am happy that now his son would not have to go through this family tradition.

 

This conversation between Martin and Alen, I hope, us the beginning of Alen's new dream which, this time, he could follow and make true.

 

Amazing chapter and waiting for the next one:)

  On 11/23/2014 at 9:20 PM, Carlos Hazday said:
"James, do you like your life?..."

THIS is why I like your writing! Ya'll have commented about how wrenching some of my little stories have been and you just did the same thing. Sadness, frustration, pity they all hit me so quickly that I was ready to spin. Why do some people allow their relatives to dictate their lives. I almost fell into my mother's designs and then I woke up, changed schools, changed majors and came out of the closet. And the only thing I regret is not doing it sooner.

James is playing in my head, always loved that tune.

And, after reading the comment about marrying, having a son and the son doing it all over again--this litle thing came to mind.

I think you and I can have fun with the soundtrack when we get together at the bar! :D

Expand  
Well, at least I didn't kill him. LOL

When you reminded me of that song, I couldn't forget it and while I thought about the boat-prompt, this little piece came up. Every time I hear or read about people letting other people tell them how to live their life, I want to yell at them to stop that. But I guess, for some it's difficult and it takes a while until they can change.

Oh yes, I can do heart wrenching plus binge drinking...Maybe my story 'The Wardrobe' is something for you...although on the other hand...too much drama? LOL

Thanks, Carlos. I'm looking forward to meet you at the bar.

  On 11/24/2014 at 2:16 AM, sacredlove said:
I am glad you continued. The story of Alan's past was really sad. He had a choice to pursue his dreams, to live his life with Jack but he couldn't and knowing about his circumstances it's understandable. I am happy that now his son would not have to go through this family tradition.

 

This conversation between Martin and Alen, I hope, us the beginning of Alen's new dream which, this time, he could follow and make true.

 

Amazing chapter and waiting for the next one:)

Expand  
I like a challenge. 'James' kept running in my head and when I read the boat prompt I wanted to somehow bind this to ideas together because it sounded so strange. I'm glad you liked it, and maybe we'll see more from Alan later on.

Thank you for your thoughts, sacredlove. :)

  On 11/24/2014 at 8:10 AM, Cannd said:
i'd like to see more of this. maybe he comes back to the bar to hear him play often and they talk before he goes on, become friends.....and well you can write the rest. hard to write out a story for two people in prompts but I think you can do it :)
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I'm trying to write an on-going story with prompt ideas taking place at a bar, mainly from Martin's and Roman's POV. We might see Alan again, if the time and the prompt is right.

Thank you, Cannd. I'm glad you think I can do it.

Damn ... that hit me right in the gut. I like this ongoing thing in the bar .. bits and pieces of intriguing people. I feel for Alan, it's hard to step outside the conventional particularly if you've spent your life being boxed in by parental expectations and then to be forced into an either/or decision by Jack ... the demands of others. Hard to say whether he would have been happy had he gone that route. Sometimes a person is just not ready. I hope he can find what it is he needs ...

Nicely written, evocative and insightful.

  On 11/24/2014 at 1:02 PM, dughlas said:
Damn ... that hit me right in the gut. I like this ongoing thing in the bar .. bits and pieces of intriguing people. I feel for Alan, it's hard to step outside the conventional particularly if you've spent your life being boxed in by parental expectations and then to be forced into an either/or decision by Jack ... the demands of others. Hard to say whether he would have been happy had he gone that route. Sometimes a person is just not ready. I hope he can find what it is he needs ...

Nicely written, evocative and insightful.

Expand  
Thanks again, dughlas. That's what I wanted to convey, for some it might even take twenty years to be brave enough to live their dream, be who they were meant to be. And often enough this won't happen without pain.
  On 12/14/2014 at 3:33 AM, Nlaudenslager said:
It's amazing how much people share with strangers. There's a reason I call going to my fave bar--going to church.

Very poignant. But where are you going with this, my scribe? Very curious.

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Thank you! To be honest I don't really know where I'm going with this. I let the prompt themes guide me and see what comes out of it. The chapters will always be from either Roman's or Martin's POV, that's the only certain thing here.
  On 3/31/2015 at 3:27 PM, Headstall said:
Regret is one of the worst things we experience in life and you portrayed it perfectly in this short little vignette. I understood this at its core. My regrets are balanced by my kids... I would love to be able to tell Alan my story... and tell him it's not too late... just wonderful, Adi... cheers... Gary
Expand  
Maybe you're meeting him at my bar someday and do just that. I bet Alan would be grateful. You only understand regret when you have felt it. Thank you, Gary. After reading your review I want to revisit Alan...after he met you.

Thank you, Gary. This meant a lot to me.

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