A Warped Mind

Joe lay slumped against the ancient mahogany bookcase. Although he was awake, his eyes were closed. Every time he moved, it felt like a tidal wave of rocks were pounding down on his body. He’d known, as soon as he turned the doorknob, that it was a bad idea to invite Alex and the crew over for a beer. Firstly, he thought, I don’t even live here anymore! He groaned inwardly.

“Joseph!” the tidal wave washed over once more: this time caused by his sister’s shrill, squeaky yelp. He was pretty sure that, although he’d been away a while, it wasn’t an ‘I’m so pleased to see you’ yelp. Joe groaned loudly.

“Joseph! Get up and clean up this mess! Mum will be back in two hours and she’s gonna go nuclear. Why are you here anyway?”

“Nice to see you, too,” he moaned.

“Never mind fricking pleasantries. Why is there a pair of my pants hanging off the hall light?”

“Oh Jesus! Alex,” he needed no further explanation, “I’m sorry, sis.”

“Good ol’ fricking Alex! Geeeeet uuuuup!”

“Alright!” Joe half yelled, “I just wanted to surprise you guys. Give us a hand?”

“Surprise? As in ‘Oh wow, my house is a wreck’? £50 and I’ll clean.”

“Deal!”

Joe dragged his feverishly hungover body around the house, cleaning up after his ever-chaotic friends. This has to stop, he thought while he watched his sister scrubbing the carpet.

“How’s Uni going, anyway?” she asked. Joe looked around carefully before he answered. He’d just decided, seriously, that he’d had enough of his party days.

“To be honest, sis,” he sighed with a smirk, “I think Uni has warped my fragile little mind!”


Word count: 280
Written for: "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge" 
Prompt: Include the line "Clean up this mess"