Near the end of my bike ride home from the bar tonight I came across a guy passed out cold on someone's lawn a few doors down from where I live. His bike was laid on the grass beside him. I parked my own bike and knelt down beside him, trying to wake him up. It took awhile, and I tried several different tactics, even shaking him and slapping his arms and legs.
Finally I just resorted to shouting into his ear, "Hey! What's your name?!" and he bolted upright. "Nick!" he said, rolling around in front of me, unable to sustain purchase. His eyes were unfocused and bewildered as he tried hard to see through the drunken dream state.
"You need to go home," I said. "I'm afraid someone will take advantage of you while you're passed out here."
He nodded his head furiously, sending his balance off kilter.
"You gonna be okay?" I asked, in no state to babysit some drunk dude, but still concerned (what if he'd had alcohol poisoning?). "Do you want me to call an ambulance?"
He shook his head no, still tottering.
"Okay," I said. "I'm gonna go." Then I added, "Get home safe."
I got on my bike and rode it down a block and got my keys out. In the distance I could still see him still sitting there, legs wide open, head down.
Godspeed, Nick. Tomorrow's prolly gonna hurt.
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