The Danger Game - Kalinda Ashton - Hardie Grant Publishing 2009
'Living with some really rich guy. Daytona at home in the living room and a glass basin the bathroom. He say she's putting it on, Mum is, and that she just wants another man to come and rescue her.'
Even to me, Dayton and yuppie renovations didn't seem a bad deal. 'See how you go. But talk to me about it before you decide.'
'Yeah Miss.'
It was the end of the day when Tom, the principal, called out to me. He rubbed at his eyes behind his glasses. Tom was a careful man in his early sixties. He was slender, with a clipped beard, a love of pinstriped suits and a habit of getting uproariously drunk at the Christmas party each year. When he hired me, it was just after his application to be the head teacher at a private school proved unsuccessful, and there were private bets amongst the teachers on how soon he'd retire.
'Alice? Were you supervising at lunch?'
'I was only on duty for the second half.'
'Where were you?'
'I checked the gates. It was fine. I guess the chromers had a day off.'
'One of the girls fell off the step and hit her face. Her mother came down to the school. We couldn't find you.'
'I was in the woodwork room. One of my students is about to drop out.'
'Even if we can't prevent accidents, Alice, the point of duty is to make sure someone's there. You're supposed to keep moving when you're supervising.'
He was right. I had spent too long with Sam. I'd only been at the school four years. I had trouble controlling my classes. I told Tom I couldn't be everywhere at once.
'Was it a male student in the woodwork room?'
"...a habit of getting uproariously drunk..."
Alcohol consumption ('boozing') is way of life in Western society. The social settings are often the pub, the bar, the restaurant with a bottle of wine, or the barbeque where people bring their own. Gentrified areas are marked not only by rising house prices and development, but the establishment of trendy bars or the revamping of existing ones.
About six months ago I stopped drinking, with the exception of the rare after-dinner whisky or a sample of tequila. In varying degrees, my social interactions used to involve alcohol: catching up with friends at a bar/pub, chatting with colleagues over a few beers, dinner and drinks, barbeque and a six-pack - what you'd expect of a person in their twenties. Now that I no longer drink, it seems that I have been cut-off from this social environment, a feeling that only becomes more apparent when those around begin their descent into shit-facedness.
I miss the bumpy road of a night out and the misadventures that would ensue, but at the same time, I'm glad that that part of my life is finished(I've done some stupid things - not violent or anything, but stupid). My biggest worry now that I don't drink, is that my perpetual sobriety will retard my social life, which is both silly and makes me sound like a recovering alcoholic (which I'm not). I guess what I miss is the relaxing and social lubricating effect of a few drinks, and the bonding that occurs during a, and reflecting upon, a shared drunken experience. That's also something I miss about cigarettes; the smokers bond. As a smoker I was forced to satisfy my nicotine addiction outside of the bar I was drinking in and my place of work. Invariably the exiled smokers would begin to chat and get to know each other, forming a bond or friendship with every nicotine hit. "Can I borrow your lighter? I used to smoke those." The best one: "I'm trying to quit." Whenever one of my smoking buddies would quit, I would feel a twinge of sorrow as our friendship had been irreparably altered, the status quo reestablished only in the event of their collapse of will-power. The cigarette, for the several risks (to understate the damage that they cause) it poses to one's health, can be a powerful social catalyst. That being said, it is an insidious habit that adversely affects every part of the body, one that I am glad I now live without.
A social life should not have to be contingent on booze, nor should it need the aid of a cigarette. I am in the process of constructing a more rewarding one with the absence of both. A clear head and clean lungs is a great way to start.
"...I couldn't be everywhere at once."
I grew up enjoying the fictional exploits of superheroes via comic books and cartoons. I stopped buying monthly comics over a decade ago, but have maintained an interest in the superhero and whatever happens in the main universes (DC and Marvel). If I buy a comic these days, it is either a graphic novel or some sort of collected edition. Vertigo's 'Lucifer' series has been a particular favourite, as has Wildstorm's 'Planetary.'
A couple of years ago I found myself in a comic shop glancing over the titles and couldn't help but notice how a single character could be found in several of them. Wolverine, for instance, in addition to having his own monthly comic, was a member of the X-men (of which there were about three comics) and X-Force and could be seen/read fighting alongside The Avengers. Spiderman had a couple of his own titles, as well as being on The Avengers roster. Both Batman and Superman had a few monthly publications (how many comics does one character need? At least Batman has Robin and the rest of the 'Bat Family' - who also have their own titles) in addition to their Justice League activities. Batman and Wolverine sell. A lot, I'm assuming. I can understand why the publisher would want to capitalise on their popularity. But among the considerable talents and suites of abilities that these characters have, none have the power to duplicate themselves. They can't be in two (three or four) places at the same time. Wolverine, with all of his commitments would have to employ a personal assistant to keep track of everything.
"Uh, Mr...uh, Wolverine the Avengers are wondering when your going to be able to join them? The Hulk is having another one of his tantrums ... also don't forget about that thing you have with X-Force tomorrow, they don't like it when your late. Your also due to spend some time growling at a bar - people are asking questions."
Surely there is a limit to the amount of activity a character can engage in, no matter how super they are.
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