Cutting Down on Drinking By George Gad Economou

“have you ever thought of quitting?” Christine

asked. “quit what?” I asked.

“drinking; at least so much.”

“I’ve cut down since I met you,” I retorted.

“right,” she scoffed. “since noon, you’ve

emptied a bottle of bourbon and two six-packs of beer.”

“5% beer,” I pointed out. “normally, I’d go for stronger

beers, like Elephant. and would have

added a few gin cocktails in the mix. see? I barely drink anymore.”

“Jesus, George,” she groaned. “I just want you to

be healthy, to live long enough to…to I don’t even

fucking know.”

“don’t worry, love,” I reassured her as I cracked open

another bottle of Jim Beam, “even heavy drinkers live

longer than teetotalers. I’ll be around for a long

fucking time.”

“right, sure.”

“no, trust me. I’ll be the one burying you.”

“that’s reassuring,” she giggled.

“you’re the one that wants me to live long enough; figured it’s

because you didn’t want to go through the

hustle of having to bury my bourbon-reeking corpse.”

“not what I was worried about.”

“why are we even having this conversation then?”

George Gad Economou has a Master’s degree in Philosophy of Science, currently works as a freelance writer, and has published three novels and two poetry collections, with the latest being his horror novel, The Lair of Sinful Angels (Translucent Eyes Press). His words have also appeared in Spillwords Press, Ariel Chart, Cajun Mutt Press, Fixator Press, Horror Sleaze Trash, Outcast Press, The Piker Press, The Beatnik Cowboy, The Rye Whiskey Review, and Modern Drunkard Magazine.