…is the anthem of every drunken friend ever. In the history of all time. And of being drunk.
Randomly at work, I get struck by a memory. It has NOTHING to do with anything I was seeing or thinking of. Rather than something triggering the memory, it felt more like a random burst of memory.
I’m with my friends and we’ve had a little to eat and a lot to drink (not me, I don’t drink) and it’s late. Like early morning late. We decide to hit up a KFC because it looks fried and delicious. After we eat, my friend who is pretty wasted but not completely gone, tries to get me to translate for him (we’re in Korea and his Korean is terrible when he’s sober). He won a stuffed animal in win-a-stuffed-animal-dart-game and he wants to give it to the woman working the register. She’s not one of the regular grunts, one of those manager-types.
B = Friend. Me = Well, me.
B: I’m not drunk, man.
Me: Are you ordering? Let’s go man…
B: *shaking me off* No no..hold on…tell her this is a present. For her. *hands her stuffed animal*
Me: *long sigh* [in Korean] This is for you. A present.
Woman: [Yes?] *looks really uncomfortable*
B: No no…it’s not like that….Tell her I just want her to have it.
Me: [I’m sorry, my friend is drunk. Please take the toy. Feel free to throw it away]
B: You know, it’s late, she’s tired, I’m tired…but she’s here working. I just want to do this nice thing for her.
Me: You are so drunk. We’re creeping her out. Let’s go…
B: What? No, no I’m not drunk…did you tell her? Tell her *grabs my arm*
Me: [Please don’t call the cops. We’re leaving. He’s a really nice guy when he’s sober. I think he just wants to brighten up your evening.]
Woman: [Um…] *smiles politely* [Tell him I said thank you]
B: I’m not drunk man! *falls against me*
Me: [Please don’t call the cops. For real. We’re gone]
I wonder what happened to her. Did she throw it away? Did she have a funny anecdote to tell her friends? Was she maybe touched in some corner of her heart?
I often wonder about how an event unfolds when I’m not around to witness it.
How would you feel in her shoes?
