jml297

*A friend in need is a pain in the ass. And Sally was no friend.

‘You owe me.’ With those three words, I was hooked into a situation that had nothing to do with me. But she was right. And if I did this one thing, we’d be even.

That’s how I found myself at a wine bar on a Wednesday night, perched on a stool and pretending to make an informed decision about a glass of plonk that would set me back more than a decent six-pack of beer.

Sally was at a table near the door, head bowed close to a stranger’s. The loud music, designed to create a vibe, meant I couldn’t eavesdrop. But I knew Sally well enough to see that she was making a point, her dark red fingernail tapping on the table between two barely touched glasses of merlot.

I was there as a back-up in case things got messy. And knowing Sally, this was a definite possibility. The chatty barman asked me if I’d decided yet, and I pointed at the cheapest glass on the specials list.

Then it all seemed to happen at once. Tables upended, people shouting, splashes of red on clothing. Was it blood or merlot, I wondered, pushing my way towards Sally.

Writing Prompt: starting with this line*, write a 200 word monologue.

Photo: circle of friends