At five o'clock on a Wednesday afternoon, James was sitting at the bar looking at his empty glass head in his right hand, elbow planted onto the mahogany surface. He signals to the bartender for a refill of his trusty drink. A drink James felt so familiar with he has adopted it into his family and hence asks for it with the appropriate respect, Uncle Jack. The barman looks at him and seeing that this man is in a relative state of depression decides to comply with the request and refill the glass for the seventh time.
"Why do I always let it happen?" James mumbled while the glass was being filled.
"Say what," said the barman quite surprised to hear anything seeing as the only words James has said these past two hours were "Uncle Jack Daniels, please bartender and keep them coming," when he walked in off the street.
"Well, I'm here with my wife you see. It's her fortieth birthday. We've been married for 18 years and I can't remember why. This trip was my idea I thought that if we get away for a couple of weeks without the kids and the pressure at work we might be able to reconnect and reestablish our love and commitment to one and other. The problem is that we argue and fight over everything. I can't seem to let go of the small insignificant details and neither can she."
Just then the barman was called over to refill the beer glass for the only other customer there.
"She's left me," James continued as soon as the glass was filled not giving the poor man a chance to escape. "She says that I'm not attentive enough and that I don't pay her any attention. She said that we have been drifting apart for years now and that she's had a full blown affair right under my nose! Can you believe this? She was using this against me to prove the point of how distant we've became!"
"O.k. fellow, hey don't you be crying now. She's probably not worth it anyway. You'll find someone new. Hell, man there are plenty of women out there just waiting for you to come find them."
"I couldn't be with anyone else! For over eighteen years I've only known this one woman. The only woman I ever wish to know, to hold till I die. Give me another drink."
"Steady on there buddy you've had a fair amount of this bottle."
"Now listen here govner, I'm not harming anyone or making a scene am I? I'm good for it, look," as James placed the two hundred dollar bills on the bar. And lit up a cigarette.
The juke box was playing some muddy waters number as the bar started to fill up. James was in a comfortable state of oblivion. Feeling the music throughout his body and moving his feet to the rhythm. The music and booze made the time pass quicker and the bar was beginning to fill up with more costumers.
Over in the corner sat a woman, alone, drinking the same love remedy as James. She's looking over at James when he finishes his drink she orders the barman to refill his glass. James looks over and try's to fix his vision on the lady that just winked at him. She's all made up. She has bright red lipstick on making it seem that her lips protrude far from the rest of her face. Her eye's are framed with liner, even at this distance, James could see the beauty contained within them. Only the upper part of her body was visible over the bar and he can only see the orange vest she's wearing but it doesn't hide her hard nipples poking through.
"Give me my bill please, gov. No, don't worry, here this should cover it." Placing down much more money than expected.