Short Story – Like Father, Like Son – Chapter Three

Tyrone stepped walked into the bar and made his way over to sit on one of the empty stools. He tapped his fingers on the top of the bar and lowed his head. His “vacation” was almost over and he had yet to find a job. The closer he got to his seven weeks being up, the more it seemed that he would end up back working for his father.

No one was hiring and if they were, they weren’t interested in giving him a job. They didn’t want to take the chance on him. Things weren’t looking too good for him and it was bringing his spirit down. At one time he thought he might have actually had a chance to leave his father’s world behind. Now, he felt like it was all he would ever be able to do.

“What can I get you?”

Tyrone looked up to see who had interrupted his small pity party and his eyes fell on the female bartender. Her hair was pulled back in a puff and had no makeup on her face and that didn’t bother him because she was beautiful. She arched her eyebrows at him when he failed to answer her.

“Henny,” he said.

She nodded and grabbed a cup quickly placing ice inside and filling it with the dark liquor. She placed it on the bar in front of him with a single napkin. “Seven,” she said. Tyrone took the money from his pocket and placed it on the bar. She grabbed the money, placed it into the cash drawer and moved away to wait on other patrons. He walked her move effortlessly around the bar, taking and filling orders.

He raised the cup to his lips and took a big gulp. He relished in the burn down his throat The artificial liquor made in prison would never be able to match up to the feeling on having a real drink. Tyrone felt his phone buzz i n his pocket. He removed it and looked down at the screen. He wasn’t surprised to see that it was a text message from Dave reminding him he had two weeks left.

Tyrone stared down at the cup a while before picking it up and downing the rest of the contents. He was feeling like he should just give up. He spent so much time applying to so many places and it was getting him nowhere. Tyrone was so focused on his predicament that he didn’t notice the bartender sat a new drink in front of him, until she removed his empty cup.

“Thanks,” he said looking up.

“No problem. You look like you could use another one.” She walked away not waiting for him to pay her for the drink. He took a big gulp from the cup and then stared down at his phone in his hand. He was thinking about texting Dave to tell him he would be back to work as soon as his dad had a job for him. The bartender walked over and stood in front of him. Everyone had been waited on and she had nothing better to do.

“So, what’s got your undies in a bunch,” she asked.

“What?” He looked up at her confused and surprised that she was talking to him.

“You look like you just lost your best friend. Is that it?” she asked. “Someone die and you’re here drowning your sorrows?”

“Nah. Nobody died.”

“So, what’s up then? Something’s got your face looking like that and the way you keep staring at that phone.”

Tyrone stared at her wondering if he should confide in her. That’s what bartenders were there for right? They served drinks and occasionally listened to peoples problems, but could he trust her? That was the question. She stared at him, not speaking, just patiently waiting for him to open up.

“I’m just under a bit of stress,” he said. That should be enough to pacify her.

“Aren’t we all,” she scoffed. “What are you stressed about?”

“Look, I’m not that big on talking about what’s bothering me. Especially not with someone I don’t know.”

“I’m Angela. What’s your name?”

“Tyrone.”

“Okay, Tyrone. now we’re not strangers, so what’s stressing you?”

He couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head. It was clear that she wasn’t going to let up. “I’m having a little trouble finding a job and if I don’t find one soon, I’m going to have to go work for my father.” There. He laid it all out there for her. She had been interested, so he told her.

“I wouldn’t stress about it. Finding a job is hard. Something will come up.”

“Yeah, people aren’t really that interested in hiring a felon,” he said.

“What did you go away for her?”

“Transporting drugs, which I will be back doing if I can’t find a normal job.” He didn’t know why he had told her that, but before he could stop himself it was all out there.

“That’s the job you’ll have to do for your father?” she asked.

“Yup.”

“But you don’t want to do that? You want a normal job?”

“Yup,” he repeated.

“Alright, you’re hired.”

“What?”

“I’m assuming you’ve never served drinks before but I can teach you that. In the meantime you can work bar-back until you’ve mastered bartending-”

“What are you talking about?” he asked cutting her off.

“You said you need a job and I need some help around here. So you’re hired,” she said simply.

“You’re kidding me right?”

“No. If you want the job it’s yours.”

“You can’t just hire me.”

“Why not? This is my place and I call the shots. You went down for drug trafficking, which you just said you didn’t want to do again. Now, unless you are hiding the fact that you are also a murderer or a thief, I’m hiring you.”

“I’m no thief or murderer.”

“Good. Why don’t you stick around after I close up and we’ll get your paperwork done.” Angela walked away without another word.

Tyrone sat there flabbergasted. He had only wanted to stop in to get a drink, clear his head and drown his sorrows. The last thing he had been expecting was to get a job. Angela had been so sure that hiring his was the right thing. Could he afford to turn her down? The answer was simple. No. He had no other options. It was either work for Angela or work for Mitch. Angela seemed like the safer bet.

He did exactly what she said. He stuck around, drinking water to clear his head, and waited. The bar shut down at two. They waited for everyone to make their way out. Angela locked up and only Tyrone and the one bouncer remained with her. She took some money and paid the bouncer, letting him head out and get home.

“Come with me,” Angela said walking to the office.

Tyrone followed her in and took a seat on the other side of her desk. She opened a drawer and removed an envelope. She pulled out several sheets of papers and handed them to him along with a pen.

“I’m going to go clean up. Fill these out.” Angela stood and left the office, pulling the door closed behind her.

Tyrone got to work filling out all of the employment papers. When he finished he stepped out of the office and found Angela wiping down tables.

“I can help, if you want,” he said.

“There’s another rag behind the bar,” Angela said not looking up.

Tyrone walked behind the bar and found the rag. He moved to one of the tables and began wiping it down. He watched Angela place the chairs on top of the tables and followed her example. When all of the tables were clean, Angela grabbed a broom and held it out to him.

“I’m going to clean the bar, you can sweep the floor.”

He took the broom from her as she stepped behind the bar and began cleaning glasses. They worked quietly to get the bar clean and when they were done, Angela pulled Tyrone back into her office.

She looked over the documents and filed them away. She then took him and showed him around. He learned where the drinks were stored and what was expected of him as bar-back.

When they were done with the tour, they both stepped out of the bar and Angela locked up.

“So, I see you back here tonight at seven. Don’t be late.”

“I won’t be.”

Angela nodded and turned to leave. She walked over to her car and climbed in, driving away. Tyrone walked to his own car and climbed in. He stole a look in his rear view mirror to be sure that what he had seen before climbing in was true. He saw Dave parked a bit back. He was still being followed. No doubt his father would know that he had remained in the bar for a extra two hours after it had closed.

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