Chapter 35 of 44

Escaping a Room

Exits that work at the door, in the kitchen, and mid-conversation. The best of them are already half out of the room when they are spoken.

55 verses

1. 1 I've got an early start and it's the kind you can't move Plausible
2. 2 I told somebody I'd be back by ten and it's five to Unverifiable
3. 3 I'm at the point in the evening where I should be leaving Concerning
4. 4 My phone has died and nobody knows where I am Unverifiable
5. 5 I've hit my limit and I'd rather leave well than stay badly Concerning
6. 6 I said one drink and I've had one drink Unverifiable
7. 7 I've got the car and I've reached the line Plausible
8. 8 Somebody has to be up with the kids and it's me Plausible
9. 9 I can feel tomorrow starting to happen Concerning
10. 10 I've run out of things to say and I've started repeating Concerning
11. 11 I've been standing for four hours and something has given up Unverifiable
12. 12 The last bus is the last bus and there isn't another one Plausible
13. 13 I've stopped being able to hear anybody on this side of the room Unverifiable
14. 14 I told myself I'd leave when this song finished Concerning
15. 15 I've had the same conversation three times with three people Concerning
16. 16 Somebody is about to make a speech and I need to not be here Concerning
17. 17 The food has run out and that's the signal Unverifiable
18. 18 I've got a dog at home who's been in since six Unverifiable
19. 19 I've reached the stage where I'm looking at my phone in the corner Concerning
20. 20 My babysitter has texted twice and neither text was chatty Unverifiable
21. 21 I've been sober for an hour and it's changed my view of the room Concerning
22. 22 I need to leave before the part where everybody suggests going on Concerning
23. 23 There's a taxi outside with my name on it and a meter running Unverifiable
24. 24 I've done the rounds and I've done them twice Concerning
25. 25 I have to go while I still want to have come Not reassuring
26. 26 Somebody has started talking about work and I've clocked out Concerning
27. 27 I've begun agreeing to future plans and that's my cue Not reassuring
28. 28 I'm at the stage of the night where I get sentimental Not reassuring
29. 29 The room has got louder and I've got quieter and we've separated Not reassuring
30. 30 I've been asked to settle an argument and I'm leaving instead Concerning
31. 31 I've already said yes to something on that day Plausible
32. 32 I'm working that weekend and it's not the kind you swap Plausible
33. 33 I'll come to the next one and I mean that Unverifiable
34. 34 We're away that weekend and it's been booked since February Plausible
35. 35 I've got nobody to have the dog and it's a whole day Unverifiable
36. 36 The drive is four hours round and I'd be no company at the end of it Unverifiable
37. 37 Somebody in that house has a thing about me and I'm tired of it Concerning
38. 38 I can't be in a room with that many opinions this month Concerning
39. 39 I've been asked to make a speech and I've declined the whole event instead Concerning
40. 40 There'll be photographs and I'm not photograph-ready Concerning
41. 41 Last time I was asked to carry something heavy and I've not forgotten Concerning
42. 42 I've done Christmas, Easter and a birthday and that's my allocation Concerning
43. 43 I'd have to take a day off and I'm saving those Unverifiable
44. 44 I've been told who else is coming and I've made a decision Concerning
45. 45 Somebody will ask me about the house and I've got no update Unverifiable
46. 46 I'll send something and that's the version of me that's attending Concerning
47. 47 There's a rota and I've been put on it without being asked Concerning
48. 48 I get there and within an hour I'm doing the dishes Concerning
49. 49 I've been the one who comes for eleven years Concerning
50. 50 I can't face the drive back in the dark Unverifiable
51. 51 My name has been put on a card I haven't seen Not reassuring
52. 52 Somebody has told them I'm coming and it wasn't me Not reassuring
53. 53 The invitation arrived already answered Please take the day
54. 54 I've been given a role at this thing and I never accepted it Please take the day
55. 55 There's a seating plan and I've been placed centrally Not reassuring