He sits at the bar, staring blankly into nothingness, his fingers
> making mince meat of the beer mat as he waits anxiously for another
> drink. The barman makes no effort at small talk as he pours him
> another. With the glass now full and his bloodshot eye twitching, he
> raises the cold drink to his frothing mouth, staring now at The
> barman without paying gratitude. He puts down the glass after a long
> swig, and then with a slimy hand, slides the exact change across the
> bar. Not a word is spoken between the two as The barman puts the
> money into the till and goes to the opposite end of the bar to bury
> his head into the daily sport.
> The loner ponders a moment, and slips into thought….
> “…I need to stop watching tv. As soon as that thing goes on My day
> is over. And there’s never anything I enjoy watching. 157 channels
> and nothin on. Nothing but lies. I don’t even know which lie to
> believe anymore. I just flick the channels. My attention span is
> getting worse. I can’t concentrate. I forgot what I went upstairs
> for the other day. My brain has turned to mush. Too much tv and
> internet. Useless information overload. It’s all sugar for the
> brain. Turning it to slop. Was it tom waits who said, “Information
> is being confused with knowledge. And wealth confused with
> happiness.” Or something like that.. Anyway. I don’t exercise
> enough. Who am I fooling, I don’t exercise at all! I should get
> outside more. I used to walk everywhere. Now I just sit and get
> fatter. I get bored, so I drink. It passes the time. Damn. Time to
> learn something new! I really need to read more. I haven’t finished
> a book in months. My mind wanders when I read these days. My eyes
> scan the letters but the words don’t sink in. Am I getting old? Is
> it only gona get worse from here? Christ. I need a holiday. I can’t
> socialise. I’m such a misfit. I’m only comfortable when I’m drunk. I
> just wanna get from birth to death without any hassle. People equal
> hassle. People can be ok, just as long as they keep quiet. Is it so
> hard for people to just shut up once in a while? I need another
> drink. Think I’ll order myself one. I wonder what’s on tv…”
> Someone else walks into the bar and notices the loner and smiles. An
> old friend, he sits beside the loner and orders him a drink.
> “How’s things?”
> “Great” replies the loner. “Really really great.”
> “That’s good to hear,” his friend says, as he raises his glass. “And
> happy birthday!”
> “Thanks, Amigo.” The loner sips his new drink and stares back into
> nothingness. He thinks to himself, “This could end up being the best
> day of my life.”