Fiction Friday - 4 January 2008
This Week's Theme: What is the first New Year's Resolution your character breaks? How soon? Why?
Five minutes to midnight. The champagne is on ice and ready, and we're all beginning to congregate in the main hall. Another year, another set of resolutions. Why do we only think to improve our lives in the dying seconds of one year? As if that is any better time to take steps to improve our lives than any other time of year.
My hand instinctively pats at my stomach. Well, there's the perennial favourite. Get back in shape, just like last year. I did OK this past year, I did lose a bit of weight. Christmas was my undoing, as always. So we're going to shed a few pounds in the new year, and pack on a few in muscle. Before I get too old to be able to do anything about the shape I'm in.
Four minutes. Learn a new language. I've always told myself I'd learn Spanish, then travel South America, away from the tourist traps. During my gap year. After graduation. Before changing jobs. Never quite got round to it. But this year, I'll learn the language. Definitely. Then have that adventure I always promised myself. This year.
Only three minutes now. It's funny watching everyone milling around, trying to get close to someone they want to kiss at midnight. All the conversations are now shallow small-talk, so you can stop for midnight - or easily sneak away from someone... I'm content to just hang back here, and see in the new year in my own way.
Two minutes to go, and the champagne is popping. There are a good two dozen or so people to get round, it'll be a close call. As the waiter hands me a champagne flute, I realise another resolution. Cut back on the alcohol. I suppose that's part of getting in shape.
One more minute. Goodbye 2007. Goodbye bad memories. Final resolution. Not to think about her, miss her, let her memory haunt my dreams. Once again, we are strangers. I'm not going to spend another day thinking about her.
10, 9, 8...
Not one hour...
7, 6, 5...
Not one minute...
4, 3, 2, 1...
Not one second...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Everyone cheers, glasses are raised and amongst the smiles and good wishes and kisses, I raise my glass to an absent friend, and hope that her new year is happy. As the voices join together, singing "Should auld acquaintance be forgot...", I smile at the irony. "... and never brought to mind"? I link hands with the others, and try to forget the first broken resolution of the year.
My hand instinctively pats at my stomach. Well, there's the perennial favourite. Get back in shape, just like last year. I did OK this past year, I did lose a bit of weight. Christmas was my undoing, as always. So we're going to shed a few pounds in the new year, and pack on a few in muscle. Before I get too old to be able to do anything about the shape I'm in.
Four minutes. Learn a new language. I've always told myself I'd learn Spanish, then travel South America, away from the tourist traps. During my gap year. After graduation. Before changing jobs. Never quite got round to it. But this year, I'll learn the language. Definitely. Then have that adventure I always promised myself. This year.
Only three minutes now. It's funny watching everyone milling around, trying to get close to someone they want to kiss at midnight. All the conversations are now shallow small-talk, so you can stop for midnight - or easily sneak away from someone... I'm content to just hang back here, and see in the new year in my own way.
Two minutes to go, and the champagne is popping. There are a good two dozen or so people to get round, it'll be a close call. As the waiter hands me a champagne flute, I realise another resolution. Cut back on the alcohol. I suppose that's part of getting in shape.
One more minute. Goodbye 2007. Goodbye bad memories. Final resolution. Not to think about her, miss her, let her memory haunt my dreams. Once again, we are strangers. I'm not going to spend another day thinking about her.
10, 9, 8...
Not one hour...
7, 6, 5...
Not one minute...
4, 3, 2, 1...
Not one second...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Everyone cheers, glasses are raised and amongst the smiles and good wishes and kisses, I raise my glass to an absent friend, and hope that her new year is happy. As the voices join together, singing "Should auld acquaintance be forgot...", I smile at the irony. "... and never brought to mind"? I link hands with the others, and try to forget the first broken resolution of the year.
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