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Sandy Knauer

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Line ‘Em Up, Next Round’s On Me
by Sandy Knauer
Friday, December 17, 2004

Not rated by the Author.

       
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           >> View all 43


     I staggered in,
looking for a way out.

 


 


I was cold as hell, frozen in place with a racing heart, keenly indifferent, and aching to be well.  I was a losing winner.  Or maybe a winning loser.


 


A monstrous little building ambushed me, a bright spot in the night.  I staggered in, looking for a way out.  Tastefully bland and inhabited by emptiness, it inspired me with its obscurity.  Friendly strangers mixed with strange friends, circling a square bar in soothing eeriness.


 


It was incredibly awesome how the socially stagnant blindly looked for anesthetized rapture, each one alone in the crowd. 


 


Poised between enlightened confusion and nervous sedation, I grew smaller.  I heard the silence of my whispered screams, smiled, and nodded, joyfully crying until I was actively dead.  The experience was simply deep.  Or deeply simple. 


 


I might have twisted myself straight.  It’s possible I staggered out looking for a way in, to a world already gone. 


 


Line ‘em up, bartender, the next round’s on me.


 


Sandy Knauer


ă 2004


 

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Reviewed by A Serviceable Villain 1/8/2005
Sandy,

A very well-written, descriptive story - outstanding literary write!!


Best wishes,

Robert
Reviewed by Bob Holt 1/1/2005
This is really well done. I rarely drink anymore, but I used to enjoy those places a lot. They weren't really very nice to me, though. Now I've developed the specialized ability to become socially stagnant when I'm cold sober. Thanks for another good one.

Bob H
Reviewed by Diane Ackley 12/31/2004
Nice characterization. Makes me remember college days when I drank too much and walked home. Oh, the things we do when we're young & stupid, right? Thanks for sharing!
Reviewed by ShyPoet 1 12/29/2004
I love this - it says everything and does it with much style!
Well written too!
Reviewed by Karen Lynn Vidra, The Texas Tornado 12/17/2004
good write, sandy! bottoms up (although you won't catch me drinking: i already have problems walking when i am SOBER!! LOL)!

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