MacBeth and Booze

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:12:07 GMT

I have Macbeth coming out of my ears. Literature and English is now my new passion.

I left the wizarding world after my seventh year at Hogwarts and haven't looked back. I write my parents once a week, but for the most part I am addicted to my studies and having some fun. For the first few years I tried working...and like most people I realized that I needed an education to go anywhere...so...I applied and got into Oxford. When I graduate I want to teach Literature and English at the secondary level. Right now...I'm finishing the last part of my essay about my favorite Shakespeare work Macbeth.

Hamlet...I like that one too but...anyway.

YES! I'm finally done. Now save and print. Computers are so temperamental sometimes. I can't remember how many times I have wanted to pull out my wand and mutter 'repairo' or sometimes 'reducto'. But nonetheless...I fight the urge. I am no longer a witch. I haven't been in over ten years. It was just too dangerous.

A knock is heard on my dormitory door. I know it is Sarah coming to get me to go to the club.

"Come on Katie.” I go answer my door.

"I have to change." Currently, I am wearing comfy cloths. I grab my red suede mini skirt and black skin tight tank top with a built in bra. Then I put a black denim jacket on top and put my feet into red suede boots. Finally, I put on some lipstick and grab my purse.

I look in the mirror and smile.

Look out Oxford City.

*

At the club:

I really need another drink.

"I'll be right back...Sarah...getting another drink."

Sarah who is dancing with two sailors from the British Navy is oblivious to everything I say. She is so pretty it makes me so mad. Everytime we go out she gets all the good guys...I get stuck with the strange ones or the geeks.

"What's your pleasure K..."

I smile at the old bartender. His name is Peter and he is a trip. I have been coming here since I started at Oxford five years ago. This is my last semester. "Jameson on the rocks."

He pulls down a glass and fills it up with ice and pours my usual. "You seem a bit down tonight?"

"My party days are almost over...you know I'm graduating in two weeks. I'm almost done with my thesis. About Shakespeare's heroes versus heroines."

"Better you than me sweetie...the only English I know is the colorful kind. Anyway...I was kinda hoping that I would eventually meet the guy you'd end up with you know...so that I can give him the lecture of how to treat you right."

I down my drink in three gulps. "You would do that wouldn't you?"

"You bet."

"Why haven't you got a man on your arm anyway?" He pours another drink and hands it to me.

"Most guys don't want to put up with me...I'm too complicated...trust me."

"Most men like complicated."

I sip my drink. In all honesty, I have been asked out by many different guys at my tenure here at Oxford but...I always turn them down. Afraid that they would figure out my secret. If I am honest with myself, that was only part of the reason. As much as I have tried to separate myself from the wizarding world, I can't leave it completely. He is always in my thoughts and no matter how hard I try, I can't forget him. He made me laugh...he was the only one after I was cursed that could make me laugh...really laugh. I get off the stool and almost trip. "Oops...damn...I think I'm a little drunk."

Peter shakes his head. "Be careful walking back...I see your friend has left."

I wheel around and search the crowded room. The waitress, Martha, comes over. "Hey, Katie...Sarah wanted me to tell you that she was going with those two sailors."

I could kill her! But I can't be responsible for Sarah's behaviour. Now, I have to figure out how to get home. Damn...now I realize why Peter told me to be careful. "I'll get a cab. Thanks guys."

Turning on my heel, I leave the club and go to the parking lot. I am hoping to see a cab but...I don't see one. It's freezing...she would have the car. I can't believe she left me stranded. This is the one time that my wand would have been helpful to me. A warming charm would be nice. I wasn't planning on a long trek home. I'm wearing leggings. But it is freezing. I am really going to kill her this time. How could she have been so thoughtless. Then suddenly, without warning, I feel someone grab me from behind and cover my mouth.

I reach back and try to hit whoever this is in the face. I do manage to bite his hand. "HELP!"

We are in an alley by now and he shoves me to the ground ,my head hitting the concrete. Tears come to my eyes but I try to hit him again. That only angers him further. He kicks me in the back.

"Shut up." Then I hear a click sound like a switchblade. He is cutting off my jacket.

"Please stop...please."

"REDUCTO."

I am gasping for breath but my back, ribs, and especially my head hurt. I can see black dots before my eyes and I know I am loosing consciousness. What had happened? Did I hear that right? Did a wizard just save me? I hear someone approach and gentle hands on my shoulders, but I can't lift my head...or move for that matter. I finally lose my battle with consciousness.

Katie Bell

MacBeth and Booze