I'm in a village hall attending my friend's eighteenth birthday party. My eighteenth was two months ago.
We've been friends since pre-school. His parents are from a well-to-do background and they have a large house where the entire family lives and still have rooms to spare.
There are a lot of people here, family, friends, and a lot of their business associates; I think my friend is being groomed to be welcomed into the family business, once he's graduated.
We're both looking forward to starting our second year at uni after this summer's break.
A live band is playing for those who like to dance, me being one of them. I'm having a great time, especially as there's a free bar... yippee!
Everyone's mingling with everyone, so many people on the dance floor, can't help but bump into each other. I'm dancing with anyone willing to dance with me. At the moment I'm dancing with a young girl, a friend of a friend of my mate.
Earlier I danced with my mate's mum, his sister, and his grandma Zora, who is almost my grandma too, for the length of time I've known the family.
Grandma's old, but can still move better than some of the young girls here.
My mum and dad are here too, but they only make a token visit as they fly off in a couple of hours for their holiday. I'm not going along as I want to visit some other friends before we start uni.
It's getting late, almost one in the morning, and you know what, my head is spinning, and I don't think I should have another drink, but... I'll finish the one I have.
Too tired now to dance; I sit at an empty table as a lot of people have gone home, and just a few helpers and stragglers left.
The band has stopped playing and is packing up too.
I hardly see my friend coming, with a slap on my back and he says, "Hey buddy you okay?"
I say, "Yeah... thanks... just tiered mate."
He places a drink on the table and says, "Come on last one then we're off."
I don't feel like drinking, I watch everyone else go about, saying goodbye, packing, sweeping, and tidying the place. I want to help, but I think it's safer for me to be sitting at the moment.
I shouldn't, but I sip on my drink just to pass the time, dozing in and out of consciousness.
I'm not sure, but I think about twenty minutes later, my friend comes back to me, I'm barely awake as he says, "Come on buddy let's get you to bed."
I go to grab my drink but my friend stops me by taking the glass away and says, "I think someone's had enough hey!"
He helps me to the car and says, "I've put your bags in the spare room, you know the one, next to the blue bathroom."
I hardly make out what he's saying. I have stayed a few times at their place.
The house is just a ten-minute drive, and he helps me up to the room.
He says, "Clive, here you are, your bags over there."
I say, "Thanks," in a weary state.
He asks, "You okay hey buddy, want me to tuck you into bed?"
In my state I can't see the funny side, not wanting to sound too drunk, I say, "I'll manage thanks."
But I'm sure he already knows I'm beyond drunk and out of it.
I hear him say, "Just go in the bathroom, wash your face in cold water then get lots of sleep."
He leaves and I sit on the edge of the bed with my face in my hands.
I can't remember how long I'm in this position but I need a wee. I strip off all but my boxers and head for the bathroom, I feel so hot.
I have a wee, and I think I wash my face. I close the toilet seat and sit on it, again head in hands. Now even more in a dozy state, a sudden jolt of my head and I realise where I am, I head back to the bedroom.
On entering, I thought I had left the light on, but it's dark. I just want to lie down and sleep, can't stop my eyes from closing or my brain from shutting off.
I feel for the bed and lay on it. And I go; I'm dead to the world with a spinning head.
So here is Zora, my friend's grandma. I have known her all my life, as I mentioned, since childhood.
She's a nice polite lady of European descent. Pretty lady, in her late sixties and is married.
Hello, I'm Zora.