Charles has a drink

Charles stood and waited, unsure about the etiquette. What should he do next? What rules were there to follow that could get him out of this one?

The social enigma that he’d found himself in was as oppressive and out of place as finding a Scotsman in an Australian heat wave teaching Cricket. Charles stood and stared, uncertain of what to do next.

Charles had finished his day at work in some discomfort. The day had not gone well and the weekend before it even worse. His mood had not been good. After working later than usual on projects that did not particularly appeal to him, the prospect of a swift beer had seemed all too tempting.

Rick had seemed so sincere. He had come over to Charles’ desk with the genuine warmth of someone he had worked with for more than five years. “Do you fancy a drink?” had been the line and as they had both been forced to work so late together, the camaraderie had seemed so genuine so Charles jumped at the chance.

“I just need to finish typing this email and I’ll be there.” Rick nodded and put his coat on. “Nice one I’ll see you there!”

Charles spent 30 seconds writing the email and then shut down his computer as the lift doors closed on his friend behind him. Alone at his desk Charles thought to himself how right this all was, how much he needed a pat on the back from a friend right now. He was suffering enough from the blues of being a husband and parent. Surely a few minutes with a friend was exactly what he needed?

Excited as he was, Charles took the time to text home as he walked into the pub; after all he loved his wife very much, no matter how disgruntled he felt after a tough marital weekend.

It was here that things got strange. Charles walked into the pub just as his friends were walking away from the bar. Rick had got the round in and was now putting his bag down on a seat. All of the group smiled and warmly welcomed their friend as he approached them, but Rick sat himself down, firm in his belief that he had done his duty as far as the beers were concerned.

Charles stood and said hello again, just in case Rick hadn’t seen him. Surely the man who had asked him down and then bought the beers would see that his friend had only been two minutes behind him? Surely he would buy a beer?

Charles hovered, and time slowly passed. Charles coughed dryly, and time passed. Charles looked around and everyone except Rick smiled. Rick looked away and pretended to be fascinated by the wallpaper. Charles attempted to make a joke about buying his own drink and everyone laughed, but nothing changed. The moment lasted forever. Charles had been invited into the group but felt like he was an alien.

Not knowing what to do next, he asked everyone if they would like a drink, even though they all clearly had brand new ones. No one wanted one and so he really didn’t know what to do now. Was he welcome here? Had it all been a mistake?

Charles turned to the barmaid and dejectedly ordered a solo pint. He would buy a drink and then sit with his colleagues, hoping like hell that somewhere along the line he would start to fit in.

As he waited to pay for his drink, the mobile started to sing and Charles sighed as he saw who was phoning. Charles stood in disbelief as his ear was bent by an angry wife who was more confused as to why he was there than he was. After all she had suffered just as bad a weekend but hadn’t been able to go out and have fun. Why should he? Charles wasn’t sure he was having fun yet.

It didn’t take long for things to resolve themselves and Charles relaxed as he instantly felt warmly included into the group on sitting down. At the end of the day Rick was a pleasant man but socially inept and prone to making uncomfortable faux pas in mixed environments. Charles could excuse this, having spent a lifetime doing similar himself.
Soon a proper round was ordered by someone else in the group and all was forgotten. Charles sat back and laughed at how alone he had felt such a short time ago. He mused how massive an impact such small things as this can have on one, how lonely you can feel surrounded by people.

In no time at all the beer was drunk and Charles was on the train, warmed and comforted by friendliness that he’d actually been a part of once the initial moment had passed. It was only when the train pulled into the station that Charles realised that his problems had not quite finished yet, and he prepared his ears for the ache they were about to receive.