It was that time of year. Shopping Malls were busier, road rage in carparks was at its all time peak, throughout each store a mix of modern-day releases were pumped on repeat (almost making the ears of store assistants bleed) throughout the classics from Mariah Carey and Michael BublΓ©.
Adorned with decorations and windows covered in advertisements for each of their respective sales, it was indeed Christmas once again.
Don't get me wrong, as a father I love this time of year. Not for any religious reasons but it is a time whereas a family we can come together, reflect on the year that was, and put a smile on the faces of fellow family members.
I just hated shopping for it. I hated the 'chinwags' people stopped to do in the middle of the isles as they bump into people they know but haven't seen for months so then-and-there is the perfect time to catch up on what everyone is doing.
I hate the long lineups for any sort of service or to checkout. I hate looking at things and getting my ankles ran into by a shopping trolley from someone not looking where they were going. And while I love, and appreciate them dearly, I hate old people doing their jittery slow walk in the middle of the busiest shopping period of the year.
Yet, for the reasons I stated earlier it was Christmas time, and I did need to go out and finish my Christmas Shopping. Because like a 'typical male' who swore last year that to avoid all these things I hated I would "be better prepared and shop early next year," I hadn't.
I had procrastinated and put off doing it because I had 'plenty of time' and now I had none. The family get together was this weekend as my sister and her family were actually flying out the day after to spend Christmas abroad.
With my checklist of what to buy and for who on my phone I strolled that shopping mall with purpose. My trolley filling more with every store I visited. Slowly yet surely the list shrunk, the Queen song 'Another One Bites the Dust' playing with each gift that was marked off.
It had taken just over two-hours before the final present required was finally marked off the list, feeling exhausted I played my best game to Tetris as one-by-one the boxes and bags were twisted and turned to fit in my boot still half filled with a mix of work-related items and honestly, just junk that had accumulated.
Cursing to myself about not clearing this out earlier and a whole car cleanout was soon 'added to the list' of things I'd try to get done during my time off from work.
I was mere minutes into my drive home when the thought crossed my mind to reward myself for a shopping trip well done by having a beer at a nearby bar I frequented when I had an opportunity, turning the indicator on I made the left turn required and within what felt like moments I was putting the car in park and heading towards the front doors of the pub.
The bar tender, with his long hair tied in a ponytail, gave a nod in my direction as I entered, one in which I returned as I glanced around the room it seemed a little busier than when I usually come -- however it usually wasn't a Thursday night I found myself here.
There was music playing on the jukebox, and while it was darker inside, the disco lights, mirrors and well thought out lighting placement ensured it didn't have that 'seedy' vibe one would immediately think of when thinking of places like this.
I made my way to the bar and ordered a beer, as I began to sip the liquid ale in front of me I turned on the barstool to survey the room.
There were couples cuddling up in the corner booths, others were grinding up against each other on the dance floor Once the eyes inside the building focused you could also see a few people leading each other by the hand up the hallways which led to play areas.
Scattered around the room you could see the singles. Okay, I was about to say the ones like me. But I am not single I am married to someone who is very understanding who allows me to play. But what I mean are the ones that were there by themselves.
They, like me, were sitting back surveying the room. Some were fixated on certain booths or certain actions that were being performed while others were simply taking in the action that surrounded them.
At times as you watched or glanced around the inevitable happened. Where you made that awkward eye contact with someone else who is looking around the room doing exactly the same thing as you.
Before I knew it my beer was nearing its end, as I finished and placed it on the bar top the bartender replaced it with a full one.
"Oh no, I'm alright," I protested as he placed the new beer in front of me.
"Courtesy of the gentlemen over there." He indicated towards an older man at the other end of the bar before taking my empty glass away and moving onto serving the next person.
I glanced towards the gentlemen and held up the beer in one hand, a 'cheers' motion, he gave a little nod of his head indicating for me to join him.
I lump filled in my throat. I swallowed the best I could, took a small mouthful of the beer and stood from my bar stool and walked towards him.
"Thanks," I said as I approached him. My eyes giving him the once over, he was older than me I'd say early to late fifties, a dad bod -- nothing bad he had a good physique it was just obvious with old age a little extra sponge had appeared around the belly, and his almost completely grey hair a giveaway.
I was nervous as I spoke, I reached for the stool that was located beside him to sit and join.
"Nah, let's go," he said as he took hold of my hand before it could take hold of the stool. Standing from his as he did, immediately beginning to lead towards one of the corridors, I barely had time to put my drink on the bar top before being whisked away -- I knew the rules of those play areas were no drinks.
I didn't even know this man and yet here I was not resisting his lead, in fact it was turning me on.
We had barely made it to the blue carpet situated around the wall, the blue carpet was a sign that it was now the designated play area, when he finally let go of my hand. There was no secret as to what he wanted, however.
His hand that had led me with authority was immediately playing with the zip on the front of the blue work pants that he wore, once the zip was lowered his hand disappeared inside and pulled out a six-inch cock that was circumcised.
I dropped to my knees to where I was eye-level with his fly and opened my mouth sticking out my tongue, after all this is why I had come for a drink -- it just wasn't a beer I was after.