Will he be blue? Is he dead?
At the doorway, momentarily, I hesitated. Should I continue? Should I call the police instead? Should I even be here, pondering over to help the man who constantly abused his children and deserved to die? Should I?
The children?s pale faces came to mind suddenly. The hollowness of their stares. The frightened gleam in their eyes, the hopelessness in their expressions. They?d already been unwillingly dragged into this chaos. They had no choice over the matter. If they can do this, why can?t you? I scolded myself silently.
Calming myself down but no less terrified, I stepped inside the living room with caution. Almost immediately, the familiarity of the place that had once been my home caused a web of cracks to spread over my heart. The second thing that hit me was that overpowering scent of alcohol. He had been drinking?again.
I snuck a glance at the children. They hadn?t moved?just simply stoning there, wondering what my next decision would be.
I saw the pink soles of his feet first. They were facing towards the door, and, they didn?t move. None of this was hard, any longer, because anger had replaced my fear. I was angry, because he had succumbed to the powerful attraction of alcohol. Angry, because he had completely ignored them. Angry, because he had broken his promise to me.
The area around the sofa was crammed with bottles, cans and more bottles of alcohol. Small green flasks of gin, large clear bottles of Absolut Vodka, broken maroon bottles of whiskey, assorted cans of bitter beer, a few saffron coloured bottles of white wine, and empty bottles of intoxicating red wine. They formed a small structure around the sofa, and the scent had already clung on to the children, twisted i...
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...u to Social Services the next time this happens. I?ll even report you to the police.? I continued, getting up to leave.
I left him alone, sitting with his hand to his forehead. I wanted him to think, to reflect, to decide the fate of his children.
?Are you serious about what you said just now? About reporting me?? he asked uncomfortably as I was about to close the door. His rigid posture showed that he wanted to glare at me. I had to answer him.
I thought about this carefully. It was a difficult question for me, how could I say ?yes? to him?because I wasn?t thinking when I said what I said. But at the same time, saying ?no? was equal to letting him off scot-free, condoning his actions. ?Maybe? wasn?t even an option?
Without looking at him, I said, ?Even if you?re my brother, I try not to say things that I don?t mean.?
It was the best answer that I had.
2. “When they entered the apartment, Louie went straight to his cache of liquor. It was the time of night when the need usually took hold of him, but for the first time in years, Louie had no desire to drink.”
I didn’t answer. I could hear his deep concern in his voice. I felt bad however, I didn't want to deal with all of them right now. I turned over to face the wall so that they hopefully got the message.
Alcoholics Anonymous is one of the great unrecognized literary works of the first half of the twentieth century. It has been through three editions after its first printing in 1939 and at least fifty-three printings in over ninety countries (xxii). The wide popularity and circulation of the book certainly affirms this claim. An examination of the contents of the book will show that it also deserves this title. It is a rich work because it conveys a basic human condition, though ugly, until that time not often spoken of in public. If it simply did this and nothing more it would merely be a good book. But it does more than speak to an ugly condition; it gives a blueprint for change.
The speeches cause children to have revenge in their hearts and minds, and seeing the death of their friends and families are motivating them to fight. The war was coming, and the village needed more soldiers to keep the village safe. The boys were told to join the military or leave the village, but they knew there was only death once they leave the village. “‘Some of you are here because they have killed your parents or families, others because this is a safe place to be. Well, it is not that safe anymore.
I told him that I had just read a novel called “American Psycho” and that it was such a shame that young Americans were serial murderers. Now,
“The room was silent. His heart pounded the way it had on their first night together, the way it still did when he woke at a noise in the darkness and waited to hear it again - the sound of someone moving through the house, a stranger.”(4)
He seemed confused. He didn't know what I was talking about. Now, they are forgetting what they do and what they say.
My whole body was trembling with fear, as I slowly reached for my phone. I opened up the dial pad and I shakily pressed three numbers: 9-1-1. But . . . I thought of the rest of my life in prison and I closed my phone. I tried to think of another solution.
Families in society today encounter a number of factors that make it difficult to have the “traditional American family”. Many families have grandparents acting as parents, single mother homes, and adolescents that are struggling with addiction and behavioral issues. Families are extremely affected by addiction and alcoholism and family therapy can play a major role in assisting the affected family members. Many marriages end in divorce and children inherit the disease of addiction. Alcoholism is a silent killer of the American family dream. Some of the issues linked with alcoholism in the family arebehavioral issues with family members,mental health issues within the family, and effects of alcoholism on the children.
According to National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, more than 1,800 college students die from alcohol-related causes every year, while about 800,000 are being assaulted by other students because of drinking. About one in every four college students who binge drink also admit that they have experienced academic problems. Binge drinking is drinking multiple drinks in just a few hours to get drunk. Despite the fact that college drinking has caused many issues, it has not been stopped, yet. In article, “Why Colleges Haven’t Stopped Binge Drinking,” McMurtrie (2014) explains that this issue has not been resolved yet because many people still see alcohol abuse as general issue instead of seeing it an individual behavior. Because colleges
"No, suh!" he said, shaking his head, "no, suh!" That's the worse kind of thing for Brotherhood - because we want to make folks think of things we have in common. That's what makes Brotherhood. We have to change this way we have of always talking about how different we are. In the Brotherhood, we are all brother."
I wearily drag myself away from the silken violet comforter and slump out into the living room. The green and red print of our family’s southwestern style couch streaks boldly against the deep blues of the opposing sitting chairs, calling me to it. Of course I oblige the billowy haven, roughly plopping down and curling into the cushions, ignoring the faint smell of smoke that clings to the fabric. My focus fades in and out for a while, allowing my mind to relax and unwind from any treacherous dreams of the pervious night, until I hear the telltale creak of door hinges. My eyes flutter lightly open to see my Father dressed in smart brown slacks and a deep earthy t-shirt, his graying hair and beard neatly comber into order. He places his appointment book and hair products in a bag near the door signaling the rapid approaching time of departure. Soon he is parading out the door with ever-fading whispers of ‘I love you kid,’ and ‘be good.’
The wasted face of a little child looked out of the windows with eyes made wild, by the ghostly shades in failing light, and the glimpse of a drunk man in in the night, cursing and reeling from side to side. The poor boy trembling and trying to hide, clung to his mother’s skirts and cried, Papas coming!
The problem of alcohol use is very relevant nowadays. Today alcohol consumption characterized by vast numbers in the world. All of society is suffering from this, but primarily jeopardized the younger generation: children, teenagers, young people, and the health of future mothers. Because alcohol is particularly active effect on the body that are not formed, gradually destroying it. The harm of alcohol abuse is evident. It is proved that when alcohol is ingested inside the body, it is carried by blood to all organs and has harmful effect on them until destruction. Systematic use of alcohol develops a dangerous disease such as alcoholism. Alcoholism is dangerous to human health, but it is curable as other diseases. The big problem is that most of the alcohol products which are made in private places contain many toxic substances, defective products often leads to poisoning and even death. All this has negative impact on society and its cultural values.