Welcome back to The Backyard Portal- a chapter by chapter week by week installment of one senior executive's journey from being fired to recovering his sense of purpose and renewed focus. This is Chapter 10. For the previous chapters see the right hand side. This was originally written up as a feature film script. I hope you enjoy it.
The clock on the living room wall read 2 a.m. Nathan, looking disheveled and with a grizzly growth on his face that was part way between Marlboro rugged and just plain wild man was sitting on the living room floor. A faint glow from the corner ‘mood’ light revealed the only hint that someone sat in the shadows. His face blank and expressionless, he had propped himself up against the sofa.
Shae was quietly sleeping on the sofa, a light blanket covering her. The shades were closed. Shae coughed. Nathan glanced at her, and then took another sip out of his glass of Jim Beam. She coughed again ... then in one large whoop, she woke up. In his stupor and pit of self-pity Nathan could still see that something is very wrong. He was ready to die tonight if that what was the best for all but for Shae…
He jumped up; fell over, still trying to get a clear image of his surroundings. It wasn’t working. The room was swimming around. Whirly room. Focus? Impossible. His eyes ached and his head hurt... nothing was clear. He needed help.
Dimly aware that the only person he could call on was the last person in the world he wanted to speak to, he picked up the phone and dialed Claudia’s number.
“Claudia, there's something wrong with Shae. She’s coughing.”
“Nathan, do you have any idea what time it is?” Groggy yet rapidly becoming alert as most Moms do when they realize that something isn’t right with someone they care about.
“No” he mumbled in reply.
“Well what is happening?” In that moment, Shae coughed violently; so loudly that Claudia could hear her quite clearly.
“Nathan...take her in...” Every nerve in her body was on alert. That was not a normal cough. “Nathan? Are you there?”
“Yes, I'm here.”
“Have you been drinking again?”
Nathan’s silence confirmed what she suspected.
”Can you come and get us?” As the words left his mouth he regretted the question.
”Claudia please help.”
Claudia was torn between compassion for Shae and anger at Nathan. ”I can’t leave the two kids alone. Mom and Dad are away and there’s no one else here. I’m not going to wake the kids up and haul them across the city because you screwed up. You’re a big boy; get her in. And you for that matter! Figure it out.” She slammed the phone down feeling both vindicated and concerned. Had she done the right thing? Was he capable of handling the situation or had she just put Shae at risk?
Nathan flipped his phone shut then, feeling vulnerable and looking stupid, he flipped it open and called 911. Ten minutes later an ambulance rolled up to the door. As the paramedic passed by Nathan at the entry, the smell of a brewery hit him hard. Turning to Nathan he asked, “So how much have you had?”
”Too much”. Nathan’s reply revealed the shame he felt.
“Well, I am glad you called and didn’t try to bring her in yourself. Better to be sure you and your daughter arrive in one piece and no one else dies. We end up picking up the pieces of poor decisions off the road. Not pleasant.”
Nathan looked up at the paramedic. “Thanks”. The guy could have torn a strip off him. He felt bad enough; remorseful and regretting that he'd let alcohol take control. No more.
On the ride the medic peppered him with questions which he answered as best he could while watching the medic check Shae’s vital signs and breathing.
Two hours later, in the waiting room at the hospital Nathan sat slumped over, head in his hands lost in his inner numbness. A nurse approached. As Nathan raised his head she confirmed his identity and gave him the report.
“She'll be fine. She can go home now. Follow me.” Nathan breathed a noticeable sigh of relief, and then trotted after the nurse. “We’ll give you some post-discharge instructions. I suggest that you clean yourself up while you are waiting as she gestured to a small treatment room with a sink and a chair.”
When Nathan emerged back into the waiting room, he felt more human and very humbled by the whole experience. Giving Shae an enormous hug, they walked out of the emergency ward to witness the sun peeking over the horizon. As the taxi took them home Nathan's mind wandered off. It had been a long night. Tomorrow would be another day; a different day with a new start… he hoped.
To make it easeier and less cumbersome, The Backyard Portal is now moved to www.FromInsightToAction.com The book will evolve Chapter by Chapter as your input and experience guides it. Thanks!
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All Rights Reserved. From Insight To Action Publications. 2009
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