The Ballad of BonadukeThe Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 10: The Bathroom

by R.T. Slaywood

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #10
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: November 24, 2022

The Story So Far…

A drunken Michael Bonaduke decides to use a grift (with maybe some sort of magic/magic-like “help”) to win on a scratch-off lottery ticket so he has money to buy more to drink. He pulls off whatever he did, gets his money and some booze and stumbles off into the darkness to drink himself into oblivion so he can start again the next day. He’s hit by dark memories (probably what’s driving him to the drinking) of fire, pleading, and screaming. There’s going to be a price to pay for his grift, and he’s trying to be ready.

Before then, he gets himself drunk and we get some of his tragic backstory. As he ponders this, he decides to use some of his ill-gotten-gains to buy more booze and walks into a liquor store robbery. He foils it in some sort of magical fashion, gets some more to drink, and heads off to the park to drink until he’s arrested (probably for the failed robbery). At least that’s his plan, but it gets interrupted by being hit by a car. He wakes up on some sort of short, metal bed and is unsure what’s going on. It turns out that some group is subjecting him to a test—if he passes, everything will be explained to him (and hopefully the reader, too). He passes—and is brought somewhere for answers, or maybe training, or maybe another test. Time will tell (or things are going to get really annoying).

What’s The Bathroom About?

So the room that Bonaduke discovered (for lack of a better term) behind the bookshelf last episode is the bathroom he renovated in the home he and his wife shared all those years ago. He spends some time remembering this and grieving his wife—again.

So, what did I think about The Bathroom?

This was all atmosphere and introspection—which was pretty effective. I really liked this for what it is and trust that we’re going somewhere with this—and boy do I want to see where.

That all we get is atmosphere and introspection without it leading to anything leaves me wanting after the episode was over (but I’m getting used to that).

3 Stars