NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE

ATTENTION: Author JAlexander is putting together a team of film professionals to promote and successfully turn his over 30 novels and short stories into films.

For more information, please contact JAlexander:

Click Contact:

Note: This story is just one of seventeen taken from a novel by JAlexander called “SHIPWRECK”  

 The “Man in White” appeared to David again and quoted from the book of Matthew: “Come to me all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light.”

Walking very slowly down the road called grief, and in deep thought, David didn’t notice a man coming up beside him. Without saying a word, the stranger just walked along. Finally, David came out of his trance and was first to break the silence.

The stranger looked at him and said, “I could use a little conversation, if you don’t mind. I’ve been traveling this road for a long time without talking to anyone except the guards at the checkpoints. I guess I don’t need to tell you that most of them aren’t great conversationalists!”

David just smiled and suggested, “There are some rocks over there, so why don’t we sit down and rest a while?”

The stranger walked over and held out his hand. “My name is Bob, Bob Taylor.”

“I’m David; nice to meet you!”

When Bob got seated, he sighed, “This feels really good; I might just stay here forever!” David just nodded in agreement.

“Have you been on the “Grief” road a long time?” David asked.

“It’s probably been about ten years, but I’m really not sure. I guess I shouldn’t travel alone so much; I lose track of time, but what can you do? How about you, have you been traveling with your grief, longer than me?”

“No,” David replied; “Not even close. I think it’s been a few weeks, but it could be longer.”

David looked at Bob and said, “Can I ask you a question?” “How do you keep going day after day? Don’t you get tired sometimes, and just want to give up?”

“Sure, all the time, but just when I think I can’t go on, I think of my family. Not my living relatives, but my wife!”

Bob’s voice got very low; almost a whisper, David could hardly hear him when he said, “I haven’t been living a very good life. I’m an alcoholic and a drug user, and that is definitely a bad combination. Either one can destroy a life, but together, they’re a death wish!

“I tempted fate too many times. I wouldn’t listen to anyone and especially not my wife. When she decided to stick by me for better or worse, she only got the worse. I’m sure if it wasn’t for the kids, she would have left me a lot sooner. Well, she finally did get away from me, but not the way she would have planned. I had the bad habit of driving my car and my boat when I was drunk or on drugs. I knew it was just a matter of time before I killed myself or someone, but what I didn’t know was that it would be the only person in the world that loved me.”

Bob told David the whole family his story; “One Saturday morning, the whole family headed to the Yacht Club to take our new boat out on the water. We had planned to anchor in a small cove and have a nice lunch. I loved the water and so did Helen and the boys. We would spend every weekend just sailing around the islands, stopping to explore the many coves and inlets.

This Saturday didn’t start out any different then any of the others, but it would end a lot different!

Because I drank a lot when we were out on the water, I didn’t notice that the weather was getting bad. My wife and the boys tried many times to wake me, but when they did, I would just have a few more drinks and then pass out again.

I only responded when my wife through a bucket of water on me. It sobered me up enough to see that we were in a storm and in trouble.

After telling one of my sons to pull up the anchor, I set the main sail and the jib. I knew it would take about an hour to get back to port and it would be dark. I was still drunk and not in full control of the situation.

The storm was getting worse and I was having trouble keeping the boat heading into the wind. I didn’t think things could get worse, but they did!

We got hit by a freak wave and the boat took a list to the port side. Everyone was sent flying when the railing when under water. When the boat righted itself, only my wife and our son Jimmy were on board.

Our other son Billy was about 10 feet away. The first thing I tried was to throw him a lifeline. After trying a few times, I saw his body disappear under the water. I panicked, but when I looked to my right, I saw my wife Helen standing there with her hands together, and praying!

Father in Heaven, You promised to never leave us, so, I’m asking you now to save my son? As soon as she asked God to help us the wind stopped and the water was calm. Billy came up and grabbed the life ring and I pulled him in to the boat, and then helped him to get over the rail.

Helen and the boys just hugged each other until we reached the dock.

Once I tied up and secured everything, I reached for the bottle of rum. Helen gave me a look, but I said, this has been too much! I needed to calm my nerves.

Of course, I can’t stop at just one drink. I was just about to take my third sip, when Helen grabbed the bottle out of my hand and threw it on the deck. I watched as the rum poured out and although I wanted to kneel down and save the last drop, I just shook my head and said,

Okay, you win!

One of the worse things about being an alcoholic is that we don’t have a grasp on reality and we don’t listen.

Helen asked me for the keys to the car, but I just pushed pass her and said, its my car and

I’ll drive!

I was mumbling something to myself when Helen guided my hand that was holding the key into its slot. When the car moved forward, I said out loud, see everybody, no problem!

Even though I couldn’t see to drive, I was too stubborn to give in and let Helen drive. We had only traveled about a mile when I tried to make a sharp turn, but I crossed the white line and met head-on with another car.

I didn’t know it at the time, but Helen had taken off her seatbelt to lean over into the back seat to check on Billy. When the other car hit us, she was thrown into the windshield.

We were all taken to the hospital and when I woke up a few hours later, they told me the boys were alright, but Helen didn’t make.
I couldn’t cope with life after the accident. I lost my job, and the twins when to live with their Grandparents.

I tried committing suicide, but I’m such a coward, I couldn’t go through with it. So, I guess it’s only fitting that I walk this road called grief for the rest of my life.

David said goodbye, and the two men parted with a faint smile and a wave!

By JAlexander