First Apartment

Diane was free, free at last. Free from her bullying father, her despairing mother. Her first apartment, with her things in it, her art on the wall, and a little TV- she would watch only those shows that she liked. If a friend wanted to stay the night, there was a sleeping bag and the hide-a-bed had pillows for two. No going back now, she was finally on her own. Every payday she would get a bottle for the weekend, and if she wanted to down it all, there would be no one to stop her. If she wanted to sit around in her bathrobe and sunglasses and fuzzy slippers that was OK too.

"Com'on and pour me a drink, honey, the night is young and we're going nowhere."