Time for some more offerings from my Slush Pile Bonanza series, stories I wrote that have been hanging around in boxes or carrier bags under my bed, unpublished, possibly unpublishable.

So here is an unpublished short story that I’ve had knocking around for over 5 years.

Dod Pledges

“But I don’t want to stop.” Dod finally said. Standing up he sauntered to the bar to buy himself his third pint. I’d declined to join him after the first pint, it was only lunchtime, and I had to be back in the shop this afternoon. And in anycase, I was there to get a job done.

When Dod had stormed out of the bookshop where we both worked and slunk into the pub round the corner the Boss sent me after him, to talk him down. Truth is Dod had thrown one hell of a hissy-fit when the boss challenged him over the 3 empty and one half-full cans of special brew knocking around under the book tokens counter. Dod had screamed his resignation, and exiting had slammed the door so hard that the open/closed sign fell off. Boss sent me to placate him and bring him back.

Dod returned to the pub table and sat worshipping his new pint in silence.

I looked at my friend with sympathy. I worried for him even though he was a workmate rather than a friend, we were occasional drinking partners. Not that I put too much store on that – Dod drank with everyone, anyone. I knew he was going through a bad divorce, his daughter refused to see him and his wife was in therapy, still he carried on drinking. I liked him, I wanted him to be alright.

He was half-way through the third pint when I finally spoke “Look Dod, Boss-man is offering to finance you through rehab. He’ll pay, keep your job open, get off the booze at his expense. He’s being very fair, you know.” Dod didn’t respond beyond a raised eyebrow.

I waited in silence till the last minute, then I stood up “He’s giving you a big last chance here Dod, He’s offering to support you through rehab.” Dod gulped at the dregs of the finished pint, groaned and stared at the empty glass “I don’t want rehab” He said “And I don’t want a job at the end of it. I just want another pint” And with that he hauled himself up and off to the bar.