We continue from our last story. If you hadn't read it then you'll need to return to previous publication to follow.
"Are you married?" she further asked.
"Yes I am", was his terse reply.
" So, how are you are you and your wife able to keep things together?" she probed.
"Well in our 20 years of marriage, we've had our challenges" was his response. Not wanting to disclose much of his personal affairs, he returned to her first question about what a woman needs to do to make a man love her as he should.
He abruptly excused himself, when a young couple - 20ish, entered the room, holding hands . With childlike chuckles and hugs and smacks to the lips, they were eventually seated at one of the tables. The barman took their orders and quickly filled it as they continued their giggles and hugs and play. His guest at the bar looked on with interest. The barman returned to his place behind the counter.
"You know, I remember the days Jack and I use to be like them," she remarked.
"Things were so wonderful," she continued.
"I guess it was," he replied.
She checked her glass and reordered a drink. After her first sip, she heard a song, and found herself singing along again. "Love is a wonderful thing". Yes, but why can't it be for Jack and I, she thought.
"Did you hear that song?", now glaring at the barman.
"Yes ma'am, he nonchalantly replied.
"Are you hearing what it's saying?", she demanded.
"Well, ma'am, I wasn't paying much attention," he mumbled.
"So, why not?", she blurted.
"Ma'am, I hear those songs every day when I'm here at work, and barley listen to the lyrics," he said haltingly.
The young couple signaled to him that they wanted to order something else. He carefully packaged their barbecued chicken with added spices and placed it on their table. They hugged and fed each other. The guest at the bar briefly glanced in in their direction. The earlier patrons quietly left. (Copyright © Wallace Paul 2022.)
Continues next week.
"Are you married?" she further asked.
"Yes I am", was his terse reply.
" So, how are you are you and your wife able to keep things together?" she probed.
"Well in our 20 years of marriage, we've had our challenges" was his response. Not wanting to disclose much of his personal affairs, he returned to her first question about what a woman needs to do to make a man love her as he should.
He abruptly excused himself, when a young couple - 20ish, entered the room, holding hands . With childlike chuckles and hugs and smacks to the lips, they were eventually seated at one of the tables. The barman took their orders and quickly filled it as they continued their giggles and hugs and play. His guest at the bar looked on with interest. The barman returned to his place behind the counter.
"You know, I remember the days Jack and I use to be like them," she remarked.
"Things were so wonderful," she continued.
"I guess it was," he replied.
She checked her glass and reordered a drink. After her first sip, she heard a song, and found herself singing along again. "Love is a wonderful thing". Yes, but why can't it be for Jack and I, she thought.
"Did you hear that song?", now glaring at the barman.
"Yes ma'am, he nonchalantly replied.
"Are you hearing what it's saying?", she demanded.
"Well, ma'am, I wasn't paying much attention," he mumbled.
"So, why not?", she blurted.
"Ma'am, I hear those songs every day when I'm here at work, and barley listen to the lyrics," he said haltingly.
The young couple signaled to him that they wanted to order something else. He carefully packaged their barbecued chicken with added spices and placed it on their table. They hugged and fed each other. The guest at the bar briefly glanced in in their direction. The earlier patrons quietly left. (Copyright © Wallace Paul 2022.)
Continues next week.