•Just a Little Bit of Sniff•

Alright… This is John. Good job. Lovely Mrs. Couple of kids. Nice little motor. And Friday night? John liked a little celebration. Friday afternoon, John clocks off at five, Throws his jacket in the back and feels alive. Down the pub with the lads, Couple of pints, couple laughs, Then someone says, “You coming back?” One little line on the table, John says, “Don’t make a fuss. I don’t do this every day, It’s only Friday night. Just a little bit of sniff.” JUST A LITTLE BIT OF SNIFF, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF FUN, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF SOMETHING WHEN THE WORKING WEEK IS DONE. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF SNIFF, AIN’T GONNA HURT NO ONE. THAT’S WHAT JOHN KEPT TELLING HIMSELF WHEN THE WEEKEND HAD BEGUN. “Just a little bit…” “Just a little bit…” Saturday becomes Sunday, Sunday turns to Monday. Monday’s looking funny When you’ve barely slept for days. John phones in sick, Says he’s got a stomach bug. His Mrs looks at him, She knows he’s had enough. Tuesday comes knocking, Wednesday kicks the door. He’s spending money That he never spent before. Thursday disappears, Friday’s back again. And John can’t remember Where the week went. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF SNIFF, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF FUN. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF SOMETHING, NOW HE’S DOING IT ALONE. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF SNIFF, THAT’S WHAT HE USED TO SAY. BUT A LITTLE BIT OF YESTERDAY BECAME A LITTLE EVERY DAY. His Mrs packed a suitcase By the bedroom door. She said, “John, I don’t know Who you are anymore.” Kids asking questions He couldn’t answer straight. Daddy’s always tired, Daddy’s always late. Mortgage needs paying. Cupboards need food. He’s selling things from the house That he said he never would. Wedding ring gone. TV gone. Savings gone. Trust gone. And somewhere between “I’ve got it under control” And “I can stop whenever I want,” John lost the plot. Blue lights behind him. Hands gripping the wheel. One stupid decision That changed what was real. LICENSE GONE. “No licence? How am I getting to work?” Work gave him warnings, Then one final day: “John, we’ve tried to help you, But you can’t carry on this way.” Keys on the desk. Badge in the tray. Twenty years of working Thrown away. He walked through the car park With nowhere to go. Phone full of numbers He was too ashamed to phone. Mrs gone. Kids gone. Job gone. License gone. And the funny thing is… He still called it “A little bit of sniff.” JUST A LITTLE BIT OF SNIFF, THAT’S ALL JOHN EVER SAID. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF SOMETHING THAT GOT INSIDE HIS HEAD. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF SNIFF TILL THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT. NO MRS. NO FAMILY. NO JOB. NO KEYS. NO SELF. “Just a little bit…” A little bit became a weekend. “Just a little bit…” The weekend became a week. “Just a little bit…” The week became a habit. “Just a little bit…” And the habit made him weak. Addiction doesn’t knock and announce its name. It whispers, “Just tonight.” It whispers, “You can handle it.” It whispers, “Just a little bit.” John thought he was buying a good time. He didn’t realise he was selling everything else. “Just a little bit…”