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Sam realised where he wanted to be.

Words 275

Sam was tired. He had been thinking about home all day and about the new baby; they’d be waiting for him.
In the car he called his wife, Lou, on the phone to ask if she needed anything from the store.
Her voice sounded warm, ‘That’d be great, honey. Get some of those snacky things you know I like. Oh, and some milk.’

‘Hey, Sam, I haven’t seen you for ages, man,’ an old friend, clapped him on the shoulders. ‘How’s the missus?’
‘She’s great Fred. Got a baby now.’
‘Wow, who would’ve believed it? The great Sam Reid settled down with a wife and kid.’
‘Yeah, well, things change. We all have to grow up sometime, Fred.’
‘Well, not me mate,’ Fred laughed, and slapped Sam on the back. ‘Let’s go to the pub. Gotta wet the baby's head.’
‘I don’t know mate; the missus is expecting me.’ His thoughts went into overdrive. It has been a long time since I’ve been out without Lou, a long time between drinks so to speak. ‘Yeah, okay, but just the one.’

He forgot the time and soon two hours had gone by. ‘Look, I gotta go, Lou’s calling again.’
‘Oh Heck! You’re henpecked is that it?’ Fred laughed. ‘Come on mate, stay for another drink, it’s early.’
Sam looked around the smoke-filled room, at the men leaning on the bar or playing pool. He suddenly knew this wasn’t where he wanted to be. ‘I don’t want it, mate,’ he said when Fred handed him another beer. He said his goodbyes and left.
Outside in the dark carpark, he called his worried wife. He was going home.