Close enough... it counts...

So this was a pretty interesting day... I got to go ice skating for the first time ever... for a half an hour. But that was only after we waited at a restaurant for about a half an hour when the people we were waiting for were already there... That was pretty retarded of us... In any case, ice skating was fun. I have to say I'd enjoy doing it again pretty soon if the opportunity arose. But basically I didn't have anything substantial to write, so I'll bring up something from my archives... something that was going to be an opener or intro to a novel or book series but I decided to take it in a different direction, so it may never actually see the light of day. But thanks to my blog, it gets to feel a little bit of light... even if it's only murky interwebz light.





Another beer can is crushed onto the table. The hand that smashed it belonged to Aaron Bower, a massive man that somehow passed as a college student. He easily looked big enough to be some sort of lumberjack or something. He was one of the members of the fraternity that was hosting the party. "Ha," he said, gloating in victory, swaying just slightly. With a heavy slur coating his voice he continued, "Betcha can't beat-" he stifled a burp, "that. 16 cans. A lil' girl like you din't stand a chance." He signaled he was done talking by letting out a loud belch. A few guys around him cheered him on.

Allison looked at the pile of beer cans next to her. She was at 12 already. Was another four really that much? With a shrug she pulled up another six-pack from the ground. "All right. If you really don't think I stand a chance, then you wouldn't mind a little wager now, would ya?" Despite having two mixed drinks, a shot, and a dozen beers, Allison looked totally sober. She was easily half the weight of the monstrous frat boy across the table from her, but that never seemed to be a problem for her.

About ten people surrounding the table started egging on Allison's opponent. After less than a minute, he gave in. "A'right. Whaddyou say?"

"I could use a new TV." He was bragging about how he just bought a 38" flat screen when he arrived at the party. Allison didn't really want the TV. It was just worth it to see how sure of himself he was.

The "Der..." he let out for the first few seconds was almost comical. He was thinking, and he was thinking extremely hard. Hard enough to make some sort of droning noise leak out from the circuitry in his brain. He didn't sound very confident when he finally did get to his reply. "How about... 300 bucks?"

"I can deal with that." She had spent her last 20 bucks on beer and ramen noodles. Her roommate had asked her to restock the fridge, but Allison knew the ramen wasn't what she meant. If there wasn't something substantial in there by Friday, Lisa was going to kill her. "So when I win, I get 300 bucks, sweet deal."

Her confidence was surely earned, but the challenger wasn't so certain. "Well, show up the money." He had no problem pulling out his wallet and counting up an assortment of bills. Allison probably couldn't even muster three dollars at the moment.

"Well, I don't bring that kind of cash around with me," she said, while idly rubbing her shoulder. "I mean, c'mon. If I carried around that kind of money I'd be askin' to get robbed."

"Then.... Whadoo I get if you lose?"

"Umm... I guess I didn't plan that far ahead." Her hands drummed nervously on the edge of the table. She was the idiot who brought up betting in the first place.

A few people in the crowd started to make suggestions, but eventually, Aaron silenced them all with one word. "Streaking."

It was only one word. One tiny insignificant word. But that word was loaded with all sorts of meaning. Exhibitionism, humiliation, poor judgement, and about a million other things Allison had no intention of being associated with. Luckily, she also had no intention of losing. Four cans of beer? That was a cakewalk.

Allison was about to accept the bet, but looked around first. She was instantly ready to knock out every guy among their circle that was already fantasizing it. Now suddenly, her group weighed whether they wanted her to win or lose. It was aggravating, but she knew she wasn't going to lose.

"Deal." Allison's wager sent Aaron into an excited whooping frenzy. Did it always have to be like this?

Allison flipped open the lid and started drinking the first can. She didn't chug it like her opponent did, but after about three long drinks it was gone. Then the next, then the next and when she placed down the fourth empty beer can, Aaron looked like his eyes were about to roll out onto the table. All around her was the chattering from the watching crowd, "Where does she put it?" and "How is that possible," and "Aaron's in trouble now." Allison waited to see what Aaron would say. It was so hard not to rub it in his face and do a little victory dance.

"'Dis i'nt ower yet." He grabbed another six pack and started chugging more beer. After four he was more than a little staggered, and didn't even loook like he could handle another one. But he kept going until he finished the six pack. His eyes were glazed over and he mumbled something unintellgible.

Allison didn't want him to pass out or anything. Who knew what terrible things would happen to him if he passed out now? That didn't mean she was going to let him win or anything. The consequences of that were far worse. "All I have to say is that I'm glad I'm not paying for the beer..." Allison opened up another beer and started drinking. She finished her 23rd beer and looked over to Aaron. "Isn't this enough? Don't you think you're at your limit yet?" she asked kindly.

Aaron snapped another beer out of the six-pack ring and started drinking. He got about half way through before he started coughing up beer, letting it splatter all over the place. A few people rushed over and he managed to keep himself from throwing it all up. He reached for his beer again but tipped over as his balance left him. "I guess that means I win..." Allison said grabbing the money off the table. "No streaking tonight. Sorry boys," she cooed with a wink.

That was probably the last moment her life could be considered normal...