The Rise of Mercury

John

“Abso-fucking-lutely not!” I yelled. I thought I had been able to escape all the commitments my family tried to force on me, but of course that had been wishful thinking.

“What do you think your grandfather would say if you missed the party he worked so hard to plan, hmm?” replied my mother. She knew that would get me to go. My grandfather was my weak spot. He was my favorite person in the family, actually, my favorite person in the world.

“FINE!” I sigh as I hang up the phone. I sit at my desk, rubbing my temples, wondering what the hell I did to deserve the family I got. I knew I shouldn’t be ungrateful. I knew that I was born with privileges that other people only wished they could have, but I would give all that up for a good family in a heartbeat. My parents were never warm towards me. My mom always keeping me at arm’s length while my dad pretended that I didn’t exist until I did something he didn’t like; and then he remembered who I was and would take pleasure in beating me for it. Of course, that all stopped when I came back from my first year in the Navy and I had shot up a whole foot. I still remember the delicious look of jealousy from my brothers; they had thought I would have stayed the runt forever, allowing them to always bullying me. My parents weren’t particularly cruel people in general, just towards me and my four siblings are just as greedy, selfish, cruel and pretentious as them; characteristics I never wanted to be associated with.

My desk phone buzzes, reminding me that I’m still in base at my desk. My assistant informs me of an incoming call which doesn’t take long to answer and once it’s over I get back to work. A few minutes later, my best friend walks in. Carter Haynes has been my best friend since we were assigned to be swim buddies during Hell Week; both of us wanting to prove to ourselves that we could become Navy Seals at a young age. Besides the fact that we were both tall men, we’re polar opposites. Where Carter had rich mocha colored skin, I had golden sun-kissed skin thanks to being stationed in San Coronado in California. Carter’s family were honest blue-collar workers and my parents were borderline white-collar criminals. He was more laid back and free-spirited while I’m stricter and more serious. Our friendship solidifying more and more every time we saved each other’s lives. I respected him more than anyone, making him my second favorite person, and Carter, while being more laid back, always kept me grounded.

“Ooof, what happened?” he said, noticing the annoyed look on my face. We just stared at each other until I caved in and rolled my eyes.

“My mom guilt tripped me into going to the party this weekend.” I told him

“What did she hit you with, Hades?” he asked, calling me by my nickname on our seal team and taking a seat across from me. He knew full well it had to have included my grandfather because I wasn’t quick to cave otherwise.

“She said my grandfather had taken his time to plan the party himself...” I replied, mocking my mother’s voice.

Carter laughed at my poor imitation and asked “So, when’s your flight to New York?”

I just shrugged. I was hoping that if I didn’t really acknowledge the situation that maybe I’ll be able to say that I wasn’t able to find a flight. Although, that wouldn’t have been a valid excuse considering I was a man with a lot of money and a private jet.

“Hey, maybe this time it won’t be that bad” he shrugged, “I mean, there are a lot more people in NYC than your wonderful family. Go out into the other boroughs that aren’t Manhattan and maybe you’ll find the love of your life,” he says, always trying to find a silver lining in every situation, but I was never as optimistic as he was.

Seeing that I was lost in my own misery and unwilling to continue this conversation, Carter got up and left, leaving me deep in thought on how to get out of going to this party. “Maybe it won’t be that bad,” I tried to convince myself. But who was I kidding, my family will find some way, shape, or form to piss me off and make me regret going. I eventually gave up on coming up with excuses and searched for flights; opting to give myself a return flight right after the party in case my family had something else up their sleeves. I look at my watch and it reads Thu 4:00 pm. Only thirty-eight more hours until this dreaded flight and so I decide to have all the fun I can before then. I quickly text Leslie, my favorite fuck buddy, to see if she’s available tonight and luckily for me she is, so I arrange to meet her in a few hours. I finish up my work and head home to get ready. Might as well get fucked now and later I think to myself while I turn off the lights in my office.