Sunday 25 June 2023

'Another regular Friday night at the local pub' by Nisha Patel

Everyone laughs at my jokes. I can’t help it that they are a bit sexist. I just say what I’m thinking and then people laugh. I don’t mean to be sexist and most of the time I know it’s wrong and just keep quiet. When there’s a whisky glass in front of me though, my thoughts just tumble out. But people laugh so it must be okay.

Everyone humours his pathetic drunken jokes. He’s drunk and it's just the way he is. He means no harm. He’s a gentle giant when he’s not drunk. The sexist jokes though. It’s so close to being wrong. So, so close. Should I laugh, roll my eyes and smile, pretend I didn’t hear?

Everyone’s laughing at him. This is so embarrassing. How long before we can go home? Oh, that last joke wasn’t even funny. “Dad! Just stop! Come on, let's go home now.” I can’t even be bothered to smile at everyone now and pretend it’s ok.


What’s wrong? All I said was that’s a great ass and pretended to lean back to admire the view but I must have stumbled. I better get up off the floor. My eye’s throbbing a bit. I think I should call it a night. Where’s Sophie gone?

He shouldn’t have said those things or tried to touch her. No matter how drunk you are, you don’t do that. What was he thinking? I don’t blame her for punching him in the face. I heard it’s not the first time he’s tried it on with her either. Not sure how it ended last time but it’s so unsafe for girls to go out these days.

What is wrong with dad? She’s younger than me. I went over and apologised to her for my dad. She shrugged her shoulders and told me she wasn’t strong enough last time and didn’t think anyone would believe her. She didn’t want it to go as far as last time so she wasn’t going to laugh it off this time round.

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