Coming of age
My elder brother Graham invited me along for a drink with three of his mates. I was 15. We all sat in an inner-city cellar bar, White’s, hidden from view. White’s sold sherry, by the ‘schooner’.
The older lads took turns to buy a round, never expecting young Bob (me) to reciprocate. But, foolishly, I insisted. After five huge measures of fortified wine, I forgot the journey home, except for a lot of laughter... not mine.
I still avoid sherry after that first blooding when I came of age.
Graham died this week. Thanks mate for getting me home.
- Category: True Stories Told As Fiction
8 comments add one below
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Neville Hunt about 4 years ago
Despite the disorientation, the sickness, the hangover and two days in bed, I can’t tell you how great it was to have been invited along. A confidence booster for a smaller than average 15 year old and a real coming of age. I am pleased to say that there have been few occasions of such pissedness so far. Can still count them on the fingers of two hands, with fingers to spare. Long may that last.
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Christopher about 4 years ago
So sorry for your loss, Neville.
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Neville Hunt about 4 years ago
Thanks Christopher. It was a shock, but his health hadn’t been good for ages and I don’t think he was having a good time, but who am I to judge?
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Neville Hunt about 4 years ago
Thanks Drew. It’s been a kind of sweet and sour sandwich; hospitalisation (mine), wedding, death, birth and death and no mistake, but that’s life (and death). Graham probably did get a bollocking but I can hear what he might have said... he wasn’t a meek and mild sort! To me though he was still a hero for including me... and giving me a tale to tell... and a warning on the evils of alcohol (well sherry anyway!). I did have some fino sherry when we went to Seville a few years back, but sherry vinegar, in cooking, is as far as I go these days! 🤢
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Jeff Taylor about 4 years ago
Really, truly, sorry to hear of your brother leaving this world. 😥 But glad that he gave you an amazing story to tell and a lifelong aversion to at least one tipple.
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Neville Hunt about 4 years ago
That Jeff. It’s sad, but a part of life I guess, if that doesn’t sound too daft. The tipple aversion is good, along with barley wine (more difficult to find these days if one were mad enough to try!) and my late father-in-law’s home-brew (which is another story entirely, which I must also have committed to drabble at some point, having thought I was going to die and, at the time, looking forward to it!). Sorry for not getting up to speed with your Magic, but am planning a drabblthon read very soon, and rebooting my own Fedeltà offering.
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Jeff Taylor about 4 years ago
I too had a "Run in" with some of my dad's homebrew in the attack. I just stick to spirits now, and few of those 😉
Don't worry about my stuff. I haven't updated in ages mainly because of the Jet-stream-storm-travellator that's been over the country. 😊
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Jeff Taylor about 4 years ago
Attic, attic!! Damn you stupid phone auto-correct!
