Aftershock

Chapter 1: Wayward Wedding

June 8th, 2007

"What do you mean you can't sell it to me?! It says right on this valid ID, that I turn 21 TODAY!"

"You gatta go to the DMV, sweetie. You got to get an ID that's printed across, not down. You can probably go today."

The blonde lady behind the counter wasn't being rude. It was the liquor store's policy; she couldn't just ignore it.

A dirty, gruff guy spoke with a drawl, from behind me, "You can go to the bar, darlin'. Bar's take those IDs; they'll even give ya a free drink for yer 21st!"

"I can't go to the bar, or the DMV." I looked at the clock above the booze racks: 10:29 am. "I'm getting married in an hour and a half!"

They laughed to each other.

The man had a full beard. He smiled through it, "Married, huh? Ain't it 'pose to be the guy comin' in here before the weddin'."

"Yeah, we usually get the men in here. Sometimes a lady, but never as young and pretty as you, sweetie."

I giggled nervously at the older woman. I needed that bottle. No one could buy it for me; everyone was at the church setting up, except for my sister, Stephanie. She was 3 years younger than me. (Well, 2 years and 9 months if you ask her.) She wasn't old enough; she was back at my house, ready to help me with my hair and make-up.

"Can you please sell it to me? I'll get a new ID tomorrow. I'll never come back here with this one again." I begged.

The desperation in my voice made her consider it. She paused for a long time; long enough to make me sweat. I wasn't good with people as it was. Unless I was already drunk, of course, which is why I needed a drink so badly. There was no way I could stand in front of 15-20 people -family or not- and get married to a guy I barely knew. A guy I had met on the internet 2 months prior; a man I knew I shouldn't be marrying... but I had been drunk a LOT lately. On this morning, I hardly remembered how it got this far. My mind was racing: this is serious; this is real; we set it up; we planned it; I'm doing it; why?!; what am I doing?!; I can't do this!; I can't back out now! Focus. Smile. Just get the liquor.

"Oh, sweetie. I'm sorry. I can't."

The bearded guy chimed in, "Oh Nance! Just sell 'er the liquor, for god's sake. Her ID ain't expired. Can I buy it for her? I'll buy it for her!"

The clerk thought for a moment again. "You know what Llyod? I'll sell it to you, as long as you walk out with it. I don't know nothing." She winked. "Now what did you say you wanted, hun?"

"Ummm, well, what stinks the least on your breath?" I asked with sincerity.

Both of them busted out laughing at me again.

***

"Steph? Dude? You here?"

I walked into my kitchen and grabbed a tall double shot glass.

"Yeah, waiting on your slow ass. You get your crap?"

She was sitting on my bed, with make-up set up on the dresser.

"Yeah, dude. Oh my god, some old guy with a beard had to buy it for me. My ID faces the wrong way."

I poured the cheap whiskey to the top, making sure to keep the liquor as far away from my nose as possible. It was warm, so I knew it was going to be rough going down. I couldn't risk getting a whiff, I'd puke; it wasn't even 11am. I could down almost anything, as long as I didn't have to smell it. I once swallowed a live goldfish at the fair, just to prove I could, because the boy I liked, couldn't do it.