Resolutions by D I Jolly
“Ten, nine, eight…”
Echoed the voices behind her as they all watched a clock on the tv tick down to usher in a Tuesday.
New Years eve had never really made sense to Samantha. She never really got why that one night had to be the best night of your life. If the last day of the year was the best one, then what had you done with every other night that year? And, if the 1st of January was where you peaked, then what were you going to do with the rest of the year? Or your life, for that matter.
The whole thing always drove her a bit nuts. The pressure, the longer than usual queues, the crowded bars, the anxiety of her friends, the random dude trying to horn in close to her, a minute before midnight to score a kiss. The whole thing just irritated her.
“Four, three, two…”
Samantha liked starting things when they made sense to her. If she had an idea for a painting at 11pm, she got her sketchbook and started doing outlines at 11pm. She didn’t wait for the morning to ‘start things in the morning, when things started.’ She didn’t wait for 5pm to open a beer on her day off, she opened a beer when she felt like a beer. She went to bed at 2pm on a Saturday, she started cooking at 3am, and she could have the best night of her life on any day of the year. Except for New Years Eve.
“One! Happy New Year! Whoooooo!”
The crowd around her, a mix of friends, acceptable family and horny strangers all erupted in cheers and hugs, kisses and eyebrows the wriggled in her direction. Which she ignored. But she did force a smile, no need to be the buzz kill, downed her drink, any excuse to try be the first at the bar while everyone else celebrated, and then hugged her friend Nathen who appeared through the wall of people, a stupid hat on his head, stupid glasses covering most of his face, and a stupid smile taking up the rest.
“Love you Samsam, happy new year’s. Thank you so much for being here, and being you, I appreciate you so much.”
He half slurred, then gave her the traditional exaggerated wet kiss on the cheek.
“Happy new years Love Bug, and of course, I mean, when do I miss a party?”
“Today, you miss parties today. I know you hate it, but I’m glad you came.”
She hugged him again, then waved her empty glass in his face. He nodded knowingly and moved off to spread more germs onto someone else and she began pushing through celebrating strangers towards the bar, ducking hugs and eyebrows as she went.
Behind the bar, the three staff all stood back with clearer eyes than most, glasses in their hands and watched the mess of people in front of them.
“A very large gin and tonic, please.”
The three looked at each other, then a girl about 19 stepped forward and started mixing the drink.
“You know, for someone actually at the party, you look about as enthusiastic as we are.”
Samantha dug in her purse and pulled out her card.
“Yeah, and you’re getting paid to be here.”
The girl laughed,
“That bad, huh?”
“Just not my scene.’ But then she stopped and corrected herself. ‘Not my night, definitely my scene, just not my night.”
The girl put the drink down in front of her with a small card reader and an extra shot of gin.
“Then why did you come?”
“Promised my friends I’d try to be less of a bitch this year… last year.”
The girl smirked at the correction,
“And, how’s that going?”
“I’m here.’ She downed the extra shot of gin, and it sent a shiver over her whole body, ‘So, you know, not great.”
“If that was last year, then what are this year’s resolutions.”
Samantha shivered again and took a sip of her drink.
“Try and be more of a bitch, I guess.”
The girl laughed again,
“Nice, you’ll have to let me know how that goes.”
And she handed Samantha a napkin and moved off to serve a couple guys more beer. Samantha smiled at the small interaction, then looked down at the napkin which had the name Naomi and a phone number on it. Which made her let out a little breathy laugh, and she smiled her first genuine smile of the year.