Fiction

What Are You Having?

She stood at the bar. A bar in a pub. What is it really, a bar in a pub? A place to meet friends, a place to seek new people, a place to show off, it is all this and more. She stood at the bar, tonight she wanted to be noticed. She put a lot of time into helping herself achieve this. Bill looked over and thought she had tried too hard. Most people try too hard thought Bill. A few don’t try too much. They are content with who they are and don’t want to be anything more.

Sarah wasn’t happy with who she was. If she could just get her eyebrows right, if only. If she could just lose ten pounds. If she could feel comfortable in her new shoes. She looked awkward but expectant. That’s why she came out tonight. She wanted something good to happen in her life. If she just took a little more effort, maybe she would attract something good into her life. Bill thought that her insecurities were what attracted the wrong sort. Her insecurities, she didn’t understand how visible they really were and they nagged in her brain making their way into her expression; the way she stood; the way she ordered her drinks; the way she spoke. Everything which screamed out in her brain was exploding all over her body, her face, it was obvious to Bill something was wrong.

Bill wondered why she wasn’t happier about who she was. He thought that if she was happier with who she was then she would attract the right sort. Tonight she looked more insecure than ever. Bill was behind the bar and the whole world performs for him every night. Most start off sober but as the night passes they slowly lose their grip. They become merry or morose. It’s rare for them to remain unaltered by alcohol. Bill doesn’t touch a drop. He cant when he’s working anyway. On his days off he has a drink. But only one or two. knowing what he sees every night has been the best way to moderate his drinking. Seeing the excess makes him aware of what he may become. Bill is a careful drinker.

Tonight he is concerned for Sarah. He is everyone’s friend but he feels a special concern for Sarah tonight. It was the tension in her voice when she ordered her first drink. The drink didn’t ease her tension so she quickly took another drink, then another. Three drinks in less than an hour. She didn’t move from her spot towards the end of the bar. She wasn’t meeting anyone. Bill could tell when people were expecting friends. Their eyes would scan the room, they look back if they hear the door chime. Sarah looked blankly out into nothing. She was not looking to meet anyone. She had no desire to meet new people. Susan, her best friend, was not in the bar tonight. Susan and Sarah worked in the same office and on this busy Friday night Bill hadn’t seen her, hadn’t seen her all week he recalled.

Bill wondered if Sarah wasn’t drowning her sorrows, she showed all the signs. No interest in anything around her and a steady stream of drink after drink. These were the signs. He thought to make polite conversation with Sarah. Anything to slow her down a little. When she ordered her fourth he began.

‘Susan not in tonight?’ ‘No, she’s on holiday.’ ‘Lucky for some.’ Said Bill. ‘Two Pints of Guinness Bill and have one yourself.’ Said a regular. It wasn’t going to be easy taking to Sarah tonight. ‘Comming up,’ said Bill and he finished pouring Sarah a glass of red wine. ‘She’s gone to America,’ said Sarah. Bill poured the Guinness. ‘Nice.’ ‘I wouldn’t fancy it myself.’ Said Sarah. ‘Yeah I’m with you on that one, too many Americans! ‘Said Bill. Sarah laughed. ‘Right, yeah’ The second pint of Guinness was poured. Guinness is the slowest drink to pour thought Bill. ‘Have you booked your hols yet?’ Asked Bill. ‘Not yet.’ ‘I’m going to Italy this year.’ ‘Oh that’s nice, I went to Pisa with the school, you know school holiday. It was brilliant.’ ‘Three lager Bill and a vodka an tonic.’ ‘Got you,’ said Bill. The Guinness was taken and the next round begun. ‘I’m looking forward to it. Rome for a week then I’m going walkabout.’ ‘Brilliant. I love to go walkabout. I do Air B&B myself.’ ‘Thats exactly what I’m gonna do!’ said Bill smiling. He felt like he had distracted Sarah and was right in that. The lager was poured and the Vodka was on the way. Sarah looked less pensive and hadn’t touched her drink. ‘Can we have a bottle of house red Bill and a cocktail?” ‘What cocktail?” ‘That one,’ said Alan pointing to the special behind the bar. Bill laughed. ‘Sex on the Beech hey.’ ‘Yeah and I’ll have a cocktail too,’ said Alan and he roared laughing at his own quip. Sarah wasn’t impressed neither was Bill really, but he’s paid to be pleasant. He faked a smile. As he did the doors burst open and in trooped a gaggle of girls all doing the Okey-Cokey. Bill knew straight away it was a hen party. This was going to get wild he thought. Sarah’s body language showed slight annoyance. Bill thought he would now lose her. Friday night isn’t an easy night to have a conversation at the bar. He was right. Sarah moved over as the girls, crowded the bar. She gave a polite smile and stood aside.

‘Isn’t he lovely,’ said the leader of the Okey-Cokey. Her speech was emotional and a little slurred. Bill wondered how it would all end, it was only seven thirty. Sarah moved toward the far end of the bar and didn’t give up her place it was taken from her. ‘I want sex on the Beech,’ said the leader. ‘Ten times,’ she said and all in her party exploded into laughter.

Sarah was an observer of people just like Bill and she could tell that this group were slightly annoying Bill. She was right. Bill put on his best happy face and set to preparing their drinks. The girl who’s hen party it was was dressed in a nurses uniform with thigh high boots and large dangling earrings. Her lips looked like she had just escaped the clutches of a vacuum cleaner and her expression was one of constant surprise.

Bill lost sight of Sarah now in the mele of madness that the hen party brought to the pub. Sarah had moved to the extreme end of the bar now behind a pillar and was hidden from Bill. Alone now she got back to drinking her wine.

Although Bill knew something was wrong he didn’t know what. He crained his neck and saw Sarah just behind the pillar. She was still there, they hadn’t chased her out he thought. Her best friend was in America and this made it hard on her. Sarah had had bad news but when you have someone to share it with, it makes it easier to bear. She couldn’t tell Susan, she didn’t want to spoil her holiday. But she felt like she was going. to burst if she didn’t tell someone. Until she could she bore all alone. When Bill eventually moved to the end of the bar Sarah held out her empty wineglass. This made Bill sad. I wish that fucking hen party would fuck off he thought when he saw the effect they had on Sarah. Bill took her empty glass. No words were spoken. ‘Same again,’ he said. ‘Yeah, please,’ said Sarah. ‘In a mo,’ said Bill. ‘Hectic,’ said Sarah. ‘Too hectic, yeah,’ Bill then delivered the tray of cocktails to the hen party. The leader pinched his bottom. Bill ignored it and their raucous laughter and returned to the bar and to Sarah. ‘They are really pissing me off,’ said Sarah. Bill just laughed. Total exuberance is like Marmite, you love it or hate it. Bill was immune but he understood Sarah’s reaction completely. ‘They usually dont stay long.’ ‘Really?’ ‘Yeah, they hit ever bar in the city.’ ‘Well you would know Bill.’ This was the first time Sarah used Bill’s name. ‘Ever feel like you are in the wrong job Bill? ‘Every day,’ said Bill. Sarah smiled. ‘Someone’s got to do it?’ ‘Yeah, but why me,’ said Bill laughing. ‘Well, I suppose we always have choices.’ Bill poured the wine and handed it over. Sarah took it from his hand it didn’t hit the bar.

‘Five Lagers Bill,’ said a regular. ‘On the way,’ said Bill. The lager was this end of the Bar which made Bill happy. ‘Foster’s?’ ‘No, not tonight. Bill, make it Becks.’ Said Frank. Frank smiled at Sarah and gave her a slight nod. She returned the smile ‘Apart from Piza, Sarah, have you any other recommendations for Italy?’ Frank lent away from the bar to let Bill and Sarah talk. ‘I think Milan is nice, not been there but I hear it’s nice.’ ‘I’ll check it out,’ said Bill. Frank’s second pint was being pulled. Then unexpectedly and before Bill could attended to business Sarah said, ‘I’ll have to delay my holiday plans this year though.’ ‘Oh, why?’ Sarah was about to speak but she regretted opening up to Bill. ‘Why?’ asked Bill putting down the drink and giving Sarah his undivided attention well, as much as he was able.

‘I got fired today,’ she said and tried to hide behind a half smile. It was a brave but sad smile, a resigned smile, a smile of defeat. ‘Oh no bummer,’ said Bill. ‘Yeah!’ Said Sarah and she held her glass now in two hands to steady herself. Bill searched for a responce. He picked up the lager poured and said, ‘Well, its always hard when your boss has control.’ ‘Thats true,’ said Sarah and she sipped her wine. Bill had heard a thousand sad tales and a thousand happy tales. All of human life came before his bar. He put the second pint on the bar and picked up the third pint glass. ‘I know it sounds corny but good always comes out of bad. Its a Universal truth.’ ‘I hope so. I’ll take corny Bill. It was just so sudden. No warning you know.’ ‘Is it the company, are they struggling?’ ‘If they were that would make it easier to bear. No Bill. I failed my Job appraisal review.’ ‘Shit. I hate them fucking job appraisal reviews.’ Sarah laughed ‘Me too,’ she said. Bill’s smile returned. He had a very open smile. He smiled from the eyes as Sarah would say. The fourth glass was picked up. ‘Have you any irons in the tire?’ ‘No. As I said it was so sudden.’ ‘Oh yeah,’ Frank passed the drink to his pal and although not listening he could not fail to hear the conversation.

‘It’s Sarah isn’t it.’ Said Frank. ‘Yeah,’ said sarah a little surprised that Frank knew her name. Everyone knew Frank, she didnt imagine he would know her name. ‘I wasn’t earwiggin’ honest, but I overheard. I’m Sorry’ ‘Oh it’s ok Frank.’ ‘Well, we need a girl at the office see, our secretary is going on maternity leave in a couple of weeks. Its just a bit of admin, phone orders, you know. I’m a builder!’ Bill looked at Frank and smiled. Sarah’s face lit up. ‘Really!’ She said. ‘Yeah, you work in admin don’t yeah?’ ‘Yeah, yeah I do, I did.’ She laughed. ‘She did,’ adds Bill, ‘But No More.’ All laughed now the tension evaporated as the last pint was poured. Frank and Sarah exchanged numbers. ‘Call me Monday. If you like, you could come over and have a word with Sharon.’ ‘That would be great Frank.’ ‘OK, Sarah,’ said Frank and he left Bill and Sarah looking at each other as if a miracle had just occurred. In a way it had too.

‘See good comes out of bad.’ said Bill ‘I’ll drink to that,’ said Sarah and she tapped her glass against an Imaginary glass that Bill held up. ‘It’s a universal truth,’ said Bill. ‘Always happens, it’s uncanny.’ ‘It’s Brilliant Bill.’ ‘So now you better make some holiday plans, hey?’ said Bill. ‘Oh yeah,’ said Sarah, ‘Maybe I’ll go to Italy,’ she said and laughed. Suddenly Sarah was Bright and sparkly and something in this experience affirmed something in her. Good does come out of bad she thought.

The nurse appeared now at the bar ‘We’re going now, Bill.’ She said in a sing song voice. ‘Ah’ said Bill. ‘So soon.’ ‘We have a lot to do.’ She leaned over the bar revealing her cleavage and pecked Bill right on the lips. Bill just smiled. She slumped back off the bar, her girlfriends had all taken pictures and roared laughing again like a clutch of clucking hens. And Just as suddenly as they had arrived they flew away. The bar seemed empty now and quiet.

‘Three bitters, Bill.’ ‘Coming up.’ said Bill ‘You love your job don’t you Bill.’ ‘I do Sarah, yeah I do.’ Now Sarah leant over the bar and kissed Bill. Not quick but slow. Not stolen but given with joy. Bill savoured the moment. ‘Yeah I really do.’ He said when Sarah slumped back blushing a little which made Bill smile. Suddenly she didn’t look worried any more and her blush, her awkwardness, seemed now so appealing to Bill. ‘We should do Italy Sarah.’ ‘I’m game if you are.’ They both smiled ‘Why not,’ said Sarah. ‘Yeah why not,’ said Bill. ‘But first let me run this by you. Bill Pushed the counter top up, stood next to Sarah whose whole body tingled in anticipation. He leant in and kissed her so gently. Frank who had saw the whole thing nudged his mates. They were all smiling. ‘Just checking’ said Bill as he withdrew a little ‘Wanna check some more,’ said Sarah still blushing but suddenly brave. ‘Sure,’ he said and now Sarah took control held his face in her hands and kissed him slowly and lovingly. Her lips were like two pillows and Bill wanted to fall into bed with Sarah on the spot. It was only the cough from his boss who appeared behind him that woke him up.

‘Don’t sexually harass my staff, Sarah!’ He said smiling ‘Unless they ask for it,’ he said and he was gone and he and all Bill’s workmates cheered and clapped. Sarah and Bill looked into each others eyes lovingly. ‘Yeah, good always comes out of bad.’ Whispered Sarah in Bill’s ear then they embraced again to more cheers and shouts of joy.

‘And that was how it all began.’ Said Frank to Sharon. ‘So be extra nice.’ Said Frank with a wink and a tap on her bump. ‘Aw that’s so lovely, Frank,’ said Sharon. ‘Ain’t it.’ Said Frank. ‘Tis.’