For reasons unknown, after spending a long day hungover, the result of my attendance at the company cocktail party, I got drunk again. With most everyone else I know in this city traveling to visit family this weekend, I was left with little recourse but to try something I really hadn't before, I was going to have to "go it alone".

As If I were marching to some unheard beat, I rhythmically stripped down and pulled on something "half decent" and walked up the street in the dark, damp cold to the neighboring Irish pub.

I pushed through the old wooden doors and stain glass and found myself feeling at home in the smoky, dimly lit, and convincingly authentic pub. The crowd struck me as slightly less than half capacity as I walked to the bar, suddenly feeling terribly awkward.

Not waiting for anyone and not being waited for, I pulled out my credit card and handed it across the bar, deciding to start this trek with an amber pint of Kilkenny.

I started to become comfortable, as my bar chair conformed to me and I grew used to not having to talk, of course, the beer had also begun to do its work.

A cold breeze announced someone else's arrival at the bar. I turned slightly to see the somewhat recognizable features of face I just couldn't place. The fellow sat down next to me with an empty stool for spacing, glanced at my glass and nodded, "I'll take one of those"

I can't remember when or why, but somehow between beers 1 and 3, an impressively developed conversation about Alberta vs. Coastline living started with the fellow I had identified as a neighbour in our condo block. Without feeling the blast of cold air, a new arrival pulled up at my unoccupied side. I immediately recognized her and I saw she thought the same.

Extending a hand with a smile, I greeted her. My drinking mate stretched his hand across in front of me and conducted his introductions than excused himself, paying his tab.

"Here for the same reason?" I asked.

"Would that be not wanting to stay in, but no one else wants to go out?"

I laughed. "Words taken right from my mouth."

She ordered a beer which I hadn't heard of and a magnificent glass was placed in front of her.

The conversation drifted to more personal matters, how I liked the city, the work, my current employer.

I explained the difficult decision I had been faced with.
She seemed to frown at this, but yet had remained smiling. The trueness of the smile just seeming to fade.

"How about I don't say anything because I will only help stir the mix. But let me tell you something that someone once told me when I was in a similar position."

"Oh?" I said stupidly.

"I had to choose between getting home, or getting to where I am now. I poured out my heart to a teacher and he only looked at me blankly and said, 'Try to never pass up a good opportunity'."

She winked at me with that and finished what had somehow become her fourth drink.

She stood to put on her coat and I glanced at my watch. It was now 5 hours later and the bartender seemed to lean across as if on cue, "Last call my friend, anything?"

I saw her smile, she was watching carefully, no doubt taking notes. "I'm alright mate, thanks" I said, still unsure if I had said it with an Australian accent.

"Allow me to walk you home?" I said, signing my ridiculous bill

"Why what a gentleman, but only on one condition."

"Oh?" I said, unsure what was about to follow, my legs tensing, gearing to run.

"You remember what we talked about tonite."

I fought the urge to sigh with relief. "Deal." I smiled

Minutes later, and mere meters from my house I had seen her to her door, then skipped back to my room-mateless house.

I couldn't sleep. I rolled, tossing and turning and finally after an hour decided to head downstairs and watch tv.

I flicked on the television and planted myself on the couch, to my surprise, Starship troopers was on.

I buried in underneath a blanket and rewatched for the tenth time.

About an hour later the professor came along, "Rico, Remember you once asked me for advice?"

"Never pass up a good thing."
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I woke up this morning, somehow relocated to my bed, with my decision made.