"The Road Back" Part XI        Barhopping...      

Smitty’s Bar wasn’t a place you take a date. You might take your mistress, though, if you were married. The bar was dimly lit, smoky, and even though the place was crowded, everyone just talked to their own partner at the table or bar. No one seemed to notice anyone else.  It was perfect for an affair---no one would admit seeing you there because it meant he, or she, had been there too.

As he looked around for Sam, he thought of the times he had been here. Not with a mistress, though. When he was hitting the sauce heavily, it was his mission to hit every bar in town.  He almost did.

He finally saw Sam at a corner booth. He didn’t see him until he was almost at the booth.

“Hey, buddy!” he said smiling. “You’d better sit across from me or people will start to talk.” He winked. He slid onto the stool across from him. He was controlling myself pretty well, he thought, since he hadn’t smashed him in the face when he was close enough.

“Ok, I’m here,” he said, trying to stay calm. “What’s going on?”

“Don’t you want a drink first,” Sam said grinning, “it might calm you down a bit.” He started to go to the bar.

He grabbed his arm before he could get up.  Hard. “No, I don’t.”

Sam sat back down. “Your call.” He took a long drink from his class. “Ah,” he said slowly, “now that hits the spot.” He watched him, and when he didn’t do anything he sighed. “You're no fun at all.”

That was too much. He reached across the table, grabbed his shirt, and starting pulling him out of his seat. “Enough!”  he said between clenched teeth.

“Whoa, partner,” he said , putting his hands up. “You don’t want the police here, do you?” he nodded towards the bartender, who was watching them. He let him go and settled back in the booth.

“Calm down,” he said. “You can relax; you didn’t kill anyone.” He paused for a moment and smiled. “I did.”  relax; you didn’t kill anyone.” He paused for a moment and smiled. “I did.”