Calgary, January 2024
I have already written stories about my friend John, who wants to save the world. He tried to be vegetarian to protect the environment, and then he was reducing the consumption of hot water by showering with Diana, a friend from the gym. But when his wife Mary caught them, she almost threw him out of the house, and I had to send them for holidays to save their marriage. Now John wanted to save the world from the abuse of alcohol. “I will become abstinent,” he told Mary just one day before the New Year celebrations.
“You, who drinks wine every day?" Mary laughed at him.
“Yes. I will show the world that with a strong will, anything is possible."
“If I remember correctly, your determination to be vegetarian lasted only two weeks.”
“That was different,” replied John, but Mary didn’t think so. She knew his declaration to be abstinent was the excuse to leave the preparations for the New Year party up to her. To make it simple, Mary didn’t want many guests and invited only two friends: Dave, whose wife Laura died in a traffic accident, but he kept talking to her ghost, and Martin, Dave’s co-worker. Martin also promised to bring an exotic bottle of liquor, to celebrate the New Year in style.
31st of December was a busy day for Mary. She put the wine in the fridge, made some appetizers, set up the table with plates and glasses, and selected the appropriate music.
“So, you will not drink even a drop of alcohol, correct?” she asked John.
“Yes. I will celebrate the New Year with orange juice.”
When the guests came, there were the usual greetings and Mary asked Dave about Laura.
“I don’t know anything about her. When she found out I have a new girlfriend, she disappeared into the underworld."
“You should have brought your new girlfriend with you.”
“No. Laura wouldn’t like it. I am sure she is still observing me.”
The party started, and everybody was in a good mood. Then came midnight, they raised their glasses and toasted to the New Year of health, happiness, and prosperity. Mary, Dave, and Martin celebrated with Martin's exotic liquor, and John stayed with his with orange juice.
“This exotic liquor doesn’t taste all that good,” said Dave after drinking his glass. “Laura must have cursed it because of my new girlfriend,” he added. The others didn’t blame Laura but agreed with Dave that Martin’s liquor wasn’t good.
I don’t know if Laura indeed cursed the liquor or if it was some kind of a moonshine, but everybody got sick. John was observing people running to the bathroom and was glad to be abstinent. Then, the next day, when everybody had a terrible hangover, John celebrated the New Year with a nice cool glass of wine.