Take Your Time

Content Warning: This story briefly mentions alcohol abuse.

Brandon sits alone by a window at a contemporary, yet cozy coffee shop. There’s a fire burning in a fireplace not far away. Brandon is on his laptop with a blank document in front of him. 

All the dialogue in the story from here on out is Brandon typing/chatting with his alter ego, Jameson.

Brandon: It’s snowing.

Jameson: It sure is.

Brandon: I guess winter’s coming.

Jameson: It always does.

Pause

And it always seems to take forever to go away.

Brandon: Yes, I’m aware.

Jameson: Whereas summers seem to go by in an instant.

Brandon: Man, you really are captain obvious today.

Jameson: Just trying to help you clear your head.

Brandon: Well…thanks.

Pause

Jameson: So…you ran into her.

Brandon: Yep. 

Jameson: How did that go?

Brandon: I don’t know

Jameson: That doesn’t tell me anything.

Brandon: We basically just said ‘hello.’ 

Pause

It was awkward…and I suppose I could’ve done without it.

Pause

Does that help?

Jameson: A little.

Pause

Brandon: You know that old song by Warrant, Heaven Isn’t Too Far Away

Jameson: Actually, I think it’s just called Heaven. Yeah, it’s a good one.

Brandon: Yeah, it is.

Jameson: What about it?

Brandon: Well, there’s that line in there that goes, “Memories come rushing back and it makes it pretty hard.”

Jameson: Yep.

Brandon: It was like that. 

Pause 

I had never really experienced anything like that before.

Pause

I guess I thought that after a year I wouldn’t have that kind of reaction.

Jameson: Yeah, that’s tough.

Pause

Were they good memories or bad memories?

Brandon: I guess they were the good ones.

Jameson: Give me an example.

Brandon: I’m not really in the mood.

Jameson: Wanna take a break?

Brandon: Sure.

Jameson: Make a list. You love lists!

Brandon: LOL, that I do.

Pause

What kind of list should I make?

Jameson: Hmm, let me think…

Pause 

Well, it’ll be Christmas soon. How about your top ten Christmas movies and/or specials.

Brandon: Sure, why not…

***

10. Elf

9. A Chipmunk’s Christmas

8. A Very Brady Christmas

7. The Man Who Invented Christmas

6. A Garfield Christmas Special

5. It’s a Wonderful Life

4. Miracle on 34th Street

3. Love Actually

2. Nobody’s Fool

1. A Christmas Eve on Sesame Street

***

Brandon: There ya go.

Jameson: Interesting list.

Pause

You got some good ones on there.

Pause

 And some real stinkers.

Brandon: What stinkers?

Jameson: A Very Brady Christmas? Come on.

Brandon: Hey, I like that one.

Jameson: When was the last time you actually saw it?

Brandon: I don’t know. Twelve, thirteen years ago.

Jameson: I bet you would hate it if you watched it now.

Brandon: Maybe. Maybe not.

Jameson: Is Nobody’s Fool really a Christmas movie?

Brandon: Hell yeah it is. It starts during Thanksgiving and ends around Christmas.

Jameson: Yeah, but it’s not really Christmassy

Brandon: Whose list is this, mine or yours?

Jameson: Ok ok, sorry.

Pause

Man, you used to watch that movie all the time LOL.

Brandon: Is that funny?

Jameson: A little 

Brandon: Why?

How many teenagers do you know that have watched a Paul Newman drama over and over and over?

Brandon: What can I say, I liked it. Still do.

Jameson: Why?

Brandon: I don’t know. I just did. 

Pause

Maybe because it’s about a guy who’s had it rough, but he keeps on truckin’ because he knows that no matter how bad it gets, it’s not gonna be that bad forever. 

Jameson: You like things about struggle.

Brandon: Yeah, I suppose I do.

Jameson: Why?

Brandon: I don’t know. 

Jameson: Give it some thought.

Pause

Hope.

Jameson: Hope?

Brandon: I guess stuff like that has always given me hope. Hope that better days are on the horizon.

Jameson: Fair enough.

Brandon: Like, I think I’ve come a long way this year. Don’t you? There’s been some good days.

Jameson: Yeah, there has. 

Pause

But you still cry sometimes.

Brandon: Well, let’s keep that between us, ok?

Jameson: You’re the boss.

Pause

So, are you ready?

Brandon: To talk about the memory?

Jameson: Yeah.

Brandon: Well…

Pause

I guess the first Christmas we spent together. That was pretty much all good. 

Pause

That was probably the happiest time of my life.

Jameson: Yeah, but that’s a little broad.

Brandon: So?

Jameson: What’s a single memory from that Christmas?

Brandon: Well, let me see…

Pause

There was that time shortly after we had gotten done with all of our finals. 

Pause

We just laid in her bed for something like seven hours. 

Pause

We didn’t have sex or anything. We just talked and held each other.

Pause

Man, that makes me sound a bit…I don’t know. Something.

Jameson: Feminine?

Brandon: Gee, thanks.

Jameson: Sentimental?

Brandon: Yeah, I like that better.

Pause

So, there ya go. That’s one of the good memories.

Jameson: Wanna talk about one of the bad ones?

Brandon: Not really.

Jameson: Need another list break?

Brandon: LOL, sure why not.

Jameson: How about Christmas songs this time?

Brandon: Ok.

***

10. All I Want For Christmas Is You

9. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

8. Wonderful Christmas Time

7. Happy Holidays (Andy Williams)

6. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

5. Christmas Time (Bryan Adams)

4. Baby, It’s Cold Outside

3. Do They Know It’s Christmas?

2. Mary, Did You Know?

1. The Christmas Canon

***

Brandon: What do you think?

Jameson: No arguments here.

Pause

So…what’s one of the worst memories?

Pause

Brandon: The Oasis

Pause

Being at The Oasis the night before Thanksgiving.

Jameson: Could you please elaborate?

Brandon: Well…

Pause

As I remember it, everything started off fine. 

Pause

But as we drank more and more things got less and less fine. 

Pause

And then she started talking to…him.

Jameson: Yeah. Him.

Brandon: At first I just thought it was harmless chitchat. But when it was still going on after about a half hour…

Pause

something felt very off. 

Pause

I knew she couldn’t hold her liquor very well, so I guess I probably chalked it up to it being that, at the time. 

Pause

But in hindsight, I think I probably knew deep down exactly what was happening.

Pause

Jameson: Go on.

Brandon: So, I decided we were drunk enough and it was probably time to go. So, I approached her…and him…and I said I wanted to go. 

Pause

And I’ll never forget what she said back. 

Pause

Ugh, this is difficult.

Jameson: Take your time.

Pause

Brandon: She said, “Then go.”

Jameson: Ouch.

Pause

So, I was like, ‘Excuse me?’ And she said, ‘You can go. I don’t mind. I’m having fun. I’m staying.’ Something along those lines.

Jameson: But you didn’t go, did ya?

Brandon: Nope.

Jameson: And you were furious.

Brandon: To put it lightly.

Jameson: And at that point, you pretty much decided to get white boy wasted.

Brandon: Yep.

Jameson: And that led to the worst fight you two ever had–and that’s saying something.

Brandon: Yep.

Jameson: And about two weeks later it was over.

Brandon: Yep. 

Jameson: And while you were at her house returning some of her things…he called.

Pause

Brandon: Yep. 

Jameson: And that was that.

Brandon: Yep. 

Pause

And that was that.

Pause

Jameson: So, how do you think she felt about today?

Brandon: I have no idea.

Pause 

I guess deep down I hope she felt some of those old memories, too. 

Pause

But I doubt it. 

Pause

She’s with him and she’s moved on.

Jameson: Maybe. Maybe not.

Brandon: You don’t think she’s moved on?

Jameson: Have you?

Brandon: Well...I’m trying. 

Pause

But I think I still have a long way to go

Jameson: She probably does, too. 

Pause

She’s distracted herself with him for a year, but you’ve grieved. She hasn’t. But she will. Somehow. Involuntarily. 

Pause

And I’d hate to be around when that happens.

Brandon: Haha, me too.

Pause

Jameson: Does your head feel any clearer?

Brandon: Yeah, I suppose it does. 

Jameson: And does clearer mean better?

Pause

Brandon: Yeah definitely. 

Pause

I mean, I don’t feel 100% perfect, but yeah, better for sure.

Jameson: We should do this again sometime. 

Brandon: I have a feeling we will.

Jameson: Ready to get out of here?

Brandon: Almost. Just let me finish my coffee.

Jameson: Take your time.