Watching TV Together chapter 4

### A Glass of Wine, a String of Tears

Jack was trembling all over. “What should I do? Should I throw the TV away?”

The other driver friends beside him were also so scared that they stuck out their tongues. “Yes, you’d better throw it away quickly!”

The driver friend who had spoken earlier seemed to be deep in thought. He pondered for a moment and said to Jack, “Why throw away a perfectly good TV? These people were once living beings! I believe they have no ill intentions. Just let them watch!”

Jack stared blankly, and suddenly the memory of the wine bottle being broken for no reason last night flashed through his mind. He was shocked and quickly asked, “Was the cause of the accident found out later?”

The driver friend nodded. “Yes, it was found that the driver was drunk while driving.”

Jack’s eyes immediately welled up with tears. These unfortunate passengers were like his guardian angels! It seemed that they must have deliberately broken the wine bottle last night. If they hadn’t done that, and he had gone to carry out the task right after drinking, he might have ended up like the deceased driver.

From then on, every day after work, Jack would turn on the TV early when he got back to his room. Sometimes when he came back late, he would deliberately walk lightly, trying not to startle these kind – hearted passengers who had met with misfortune. However, they never appeared again.

At the end of the year, Jack got a bonus for safe driving. He asked for three days off from work and specially went to buy ten bottles of good wine. He laid out thirty – seven glasses on the table and filled each glass with wine. As he filled each glass, he shed a string of tears. Finally, he filled a glass for himself. Then he raised the glass, with tears in his eyes, and said respectfully, “Dear friends, I’ve always wanted to thank you. Now let this glass of wine represent my gratitude!”

He then said to the glass in the middle, “Brother driver, we’re in the same line of work. If you’re still doing this over there, please don’t drink anymore. This is the last glass of wine we’ll drink together.”

At this point, Jack’s voice became even more choked. “Friends, don’t worry about me. I’ve asked for three days off, leaving enough time to sober up. I just want to take this opportunity to have a gathering with you. Also, I promise you that this is the last time I’ll drink. I’ll definitely keep my promise. If you accept my gratitude, let’s drink this glass together!” After saying that, he tilted his head back and poured the wine in the glass into his mouth…

When he woke up, it was already bright. Jack looked up and saw that all thirty – seven glasses on the table were empty!