Holden + Scotch = Toothpicks???



Holden + Scotch = Toothpicks???

                                 By: Paola Rivera

  

     I was walking down the icy roads of New York one mid-afternoon. The sun usually would’ve been directly in the middle of the sky, but today no sun could be seen because of the cloudy weather. I was clad in a sweater, a scarf, and a pair of mittens, (1) but I could still feel the winter air on my face. I was on my way to my favorite park, Central Park, that day.

      When I got there I decided to go straight to the center of the park where there was a small lake and in the summer there was ducks, frogs, and fish to see, (1) but in the winter it was quiet and serene.  That’s when I saw him. He was sitting down on an old bench next to the lake. He was staring at the ice with a grimace on his face and bags under his eyes.  Anyone who saw him would’ve thought he was a recluse, but not me.  He looked like a lonely, young boy. (3) You could tell he was despondent and not very avid to see any one at the moment, but I still decided to go over and sit on the bench with him.

     But my endeavor to sit next to him was a fail attempt because as soon as I sat down, he jumped out of his seat and feel onto the snowy, wet ground. (2) I surmised that the fall would not cause any excruciating abrasions so I didn’t worry that much. But I did get up and lend a hand to help him up. And even though he rebuffed my help, he sort of smiled at the sight of my hand. The boy, who fell in an inch of snow, was covered in snow when he stood. (11)

      As soon as he got up from the snow he asked me a question. For some reason this question got me thinking and now it even haunts me. He asked, “Do you happen to know where the ducks go during the winter?”

      I, as you might have guessed, was slightly puzzled. But I was resilient and I quickly answered, “They fly away.”

       “Really? Good, so they’re not stuck here or anything, right?” He asked.

       “Nope, they’re ok.”

       “Good, hey you wanna go get a drink with me?” He asked. “ A quick drink, my treat and all, please.”

         I felt bad for him; you could tell he was lonesome. And he was so desperate he was entreating.  I was still standing and thinking, waiting to see if he would withdraw he’s offer, but he didn’t. So I finally succumbed to his offer. Yes, let’s go. (19)

         Moments later, we were at a bar. The sound of beautiful music pervaded the bar as we walked in. I noticed he was looking at me from head to toe when we walked in. You could tell he was extremely audacious. Inside I felt like slapping him across the face, but since he was a stranger, I didn’t want to be rude, so instead I got us a seat in front of the musician, thinking that it would keep his eyes busy. I was wrong.

       I began to try and talk to him by asking him questions like his name and what school he goes to. He said his name was Jim Steele and that he quit school because of all the morons there. He didn’t seem very honest about that.

        “Hey, I’m a little dehydrated, you wanna order the drinks now?” He asked.

       “Yes, Jim, we can.” (4)

       When the waiter came and Jim ordered two Scotch’s, the waiter looked at him funny. “How old are you anyways, kid?” he asked.

       Jim looked at the waiter and then answered him brusquely “I am 22 sir, is there a problem?”

       The waiter seemed like he didn’t believe Jim either, but he said “I’ll be back with your drinks.” And then he disappeared behind the kitchen doors.  About a minute later he came back with our order.

       After we both finished our drinks, I decided to leave but before I could, he ordered another round. I had an inkling this was going to go on for a while.

        With every minute passing he was turning more and more irascible and I began to abhor him. He had about two more drinks when I was finished with my second one. He was already drunk and acting like a lunatic. When he ordered another one I had to try to extricate the drink from him, but when I did he started yelling at the top of his lungs. “Let go, I have to call Jane, Let go.”

           I was getting pretty scared when I decided to sneak around back and escape from his despicable behavior. The last thing I heard from that boy’s mouth was him yelling at a nearby man to not let his grandmother touch the toothpicks. TOOTHPICKS?

 

      I made a promise to myself that day, if I ever see Holden again, I will Run.