Showing posts with label binge-read. Show all posts
Showing posts with label binge-read. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Story 223: Binge-Reading



            (Co-Worker 1 sees Co-Worker 2 slump onto the chair at the adjoining desk; Co-Worker 2 has bleary eyes, messy hair, and an all-round dissipated look)
            Co-Worker 1: Wow, you look hideous.
            Co-Worker 2: I know.
            Co-Worker 1: I mean it – you look like someone literally rolled you.  In garbage.
            Co-Worker 2: Thanks.
            Co-Worker 1: I mean, your face
            Co-Worker 2: I need you to shut up now.  (Holds head while taking five aspirin)
            (Co-Worker 1 tries to go back to work, then turns to face Co-Worker 2 again)
            Co-Worker 1: All right, spill it: did you go on an actual binge this weekend?
            Co-Worker 2: (Lying head on desk) Of sorts.
            Co-Worker 1: I knew it!  You always say you don’t drink, but this place drives everyone to it – I knew it was only a matter of time – I had a bet going with –
            Co-Worker 2: It wasn’t alcohol.
            Co-Worker 1: Huh?  Oh.  (Peers into Co-Worker 2’s face) Ohh, now I know that look.  You binge-watched something all weekend, didn’t you.  Let me guess: all 27 seasons of Sword Slash?
            Co-Worker 2: Hardly.
            Co-Worker 1: All 15 films of the Astro Conflicts saga, including the animated series and the short-lived puppet show?
            Co-Worker 2: No!  (In a small voice) I saw those when they came out.
          Co-Worker 1: (Leans in again, conspiratorially) No one else has to know – it was Hearts Restrained by Corsets and Honor, wasn’t it?
            Co-Worker 2: Ew, no.
            Co-Worker 1: All right, it’s just that some people enjoy the writing on that show, you know.  Nothing to be ashamed of.
            Co-Worker 2: (Leans back in chair to administer eye drops) Well, you’ll never guess because I didn’t binge-watch anything; I actually binge-read.
            Co-Worker 1: Binge… read?  As in, a book?
            Co-Worker 2: Yes.  With words and everything.
            Co-Worker 1: Are you taking an English class or something?
            Co-Worker 2: No; I’d always wanted to read it, that’s all.  We had the snow this weekend, so I thought it was as good a time as any.  Got a comfy blanket, got some tea, played some soothing piano music, and… read.
            Co-Worker 1: Wow.  What did you read?
            Co-Worker 2: All three books of The Master of the Bangles.  Although, I don’t know if I can really count that as three separate books since they were originally published as one large volume.  Took me from Friday night through to 3:00 this morning, with five-minute breaks for whatever.
            Co-Worker 1: You read that?  I don’t get it – why didn’t you just watch the movies, you’d’ve been done in half a day!
            Co-Worker 2: (Gives a withering look) It’s not the same.
          Co-Worker 1: It’s close enough!  The filmmakers said they were very faithful to the source material!  And how’d you even finish those things in one weekend anyway, they must have been over a thousand pages long!  Each!
            Co-Worker 2: Grand total was 1,372.  Including the appendices.
          Co-Worker 1: Appendices!  I’m not working that hard for something that’s supposed to be entertainment!  (Sees alert on phone) Ooh, the next installment of the unauthorized Sword Slash Encyclopedia was just released.  (Sees Co-Worker 2 staring) It’s not the same!
          Co-Worker 2: Well, you binge on whatever you want to binge on – I personally feel very fulfilled in reading what is considered to be a classic, and my brain feels all the more enriched by the experience.
            Co-Worker 1: Whatever you say.  A binge is still a binge, though, and you feel slightly gross and ashamed afterwards no matter the material or the medium.
            Co-Worker 2: (Cradles head on arms, leaning on the desk) At the moment, I couldn’t agree more.
             Co-Worker 1: (Hesitates) Got something lined up for next weekend?
            Co-Worker 2: (Perks up) Oh yeah: The Complete Collection of the John Houses Mysteries, Unabridged.
            Co-Worker 1: Nice!  Mind if I come over and binge-read those with you?
            Co-Worker 2: If you want, but you’ll have to wait until I finish at least the first set – spoiler alert, the last set is shorter because the author killed off the main character so he could end the series.
            Co-Worker 1: It’s not a spoiler if it’s been published over 100 years ago.