“I never thought I’d hear you say that either,” Oliver grinned.
“Hey, we’re gonna go do a little clubbing, wanna join us?” asked Vince.
Mackie nodded.
“Sure. I’ll just let Sandy know.”
“Cool.”
Mackie rang home and told her.
“What time do you think you’ll be home?”
“I don’t know.”
“Hmm, well, I won’t stay up then. Have a good time.”
“I will.”
They soon hung up.
**********
There was a crashing noise in the night that woke Sandy. She slipped out of bed tentatively, and quietly walked down the hall. She heard muttering.
“Mackie?” she asked, turning on the light.
Mackie blinked at her. A lamp was lying broken on the floor.
“Hi sweetie,” he said. “Sorry.”
“You stink.”
Mackie recoiled.
“That’s not very nice.”
“I mean you stink of alcohol.”
“Oh.”
Sandy got a pained look on her face.
“You’re not drunk are you?”
“No.”
“Well, either way, you’re not coming to bed until you’ve had a shower,’ and that’s when she noticed the time. “Three-thirty? What on earth were you guys doing up this late? You remember you do have work tomorrow, err, today.”
“Now you listen ‘ere, woman,” but whatever Mackie was going to say was lost, as he fell asleep standing right where he was.
Sandy sighed, remembering all too well the alcohol problems her father had. She hoped Mackie wouldn’t turn out like that! She half led, half dragged him to the lounge, and pushed him softly down. There he slept for the rest of the night.