A Greenville story. 1
st
in a series of the Esquire Bar Tales
Preamble Ramble -
This is a rewrite of Cheated, Cheater and Cheating. I read some of the comments and made me wonder if I could improve on the story. Much of it is the same as the original but with expanded and shortened. It only focuses on what happens when the cheated confronts the affair partner. I tried to develop the characters more and taken one out per a suggestion. I took out a main character to see if it flows better.
There were quite a few comments that felt the ending was rushed. I also tried to rectify that.
I haven't posted in a while because I lost motivation. I have 3 other stories I'm pushing to finish. One I've been working on for almost 2 months. I thought doing something quick would help get me restarted.
I hope you like the story, If not I'm sure you'll let me know.
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Bob was wiping the bar top with his white towel. When he wasn't serving a drink or talking to customers he was cleaning. It was his nature. The bar top was clean as it always was. Bob wouldn't have it any other way. The same four mooks have been in here for the last two hours. Not quite drowning out the sounds of English Premier League Football on the old fat back TV hanging from the wall.
Drinking their typical one beer an hour and solving the problems of the world. Their not bothering anyone so it doesn't bother Bob. This is the slow time of day. Between 2pm to around 5pm and it usually picks up when people start getting out of work. Husbands who don't want to be around their wives, Fathers taking a short break between work and kids and alcoholics who can't make it more than 8 hours between drinks. Until then its the same group of guys who come in during the day. Earl is holding court as usual. Espousing his wisdom that nobody wants to hear. He's one of the smartest guys Bob as ever met. Earl is fluent in many subjects and always speak with knowledge when he talks to someone without talking down to them. Some people underestimate him, being an elderly Black man. Earl never seems offended by that. He usually smiles and schools the unknowing offender. He doesn't know what Earl does for a living but whatever it is it gives him time and money to live a good life from what he sees.
About 3 pm a middle age white guy comes into the bar. He's definitely not the usual customer and doesn't seem to be from around here. The Esquire used to be a hopping spot back in the day. Now the area is full of old half abandoned industrial buildings and businesses that are barely holding on. It makes enough money to pay the bills. The stranger looks to be in his late 30's or early 40's. Wearing a very nice suit and shoes. He most definitely makes good money.
The stranger sits at the bar, "What ya have?" Bob ask.
"A Blanton's neat."
Bob looks at the guy, blankly "We have Evan Williams, Jim Beam or Wild Turkey if you want Bourbon. Ain't got Blantons. We don't get much request for the fancy stuff." He had a feeling from the look of the guy he could have given him Jim Beam and he would have drank it without complaint or question. He had the look of a man with troubles in his life.
"Shit, figures the way my life is going, Give me whatever is closet and keep my glass filled." The stranger says in resignation.
Reaching back for the Wild Turkey Bob says, "You sound like you got troubles. This time of day its either the job or the wife." a question without being a question. Bob has been doing this for a long time.
Taking a big gulp of the offered glass of bourbon wincing as the liquor burns going down. Its definitely not Blantons. He looks at Bob, "I guess its not hard to figure out huh? My fucking wife, well at least she's fucking someone because it hasn't been me for a month!" He holds up the now empty glass for a refill.
"Do you know she's cheating or think she's cheating. Being a bitch doesn't make her a cheater. If that was the case half the women in the world would be cheaters. Maybe she's just going through the change or something."
"Yeah she's changing alright. Changing into a bitch." They both laugh at his unintended humor.
This is something Bob is used to dealing with. You're not only a bartender but a priest people confess to, a therapist they get advice from. Sometimes someone who just listens. He's found people need to talk about things they can't talk to a friend, relative or coworker. But a bartender, they tell everything. Bob has heard everything in his 25 plus years of bartending. From murder to theft. Once how a guy was in love with his sister. Given enough emotional pain and alcohol people will talk.
The cheating wife stories used to be hard on Bob. He's been through that almost 25 years ago when his wife decided to trade up. He was going by Robert back then. Working as a newly hired sale rep for a flooring company. He felt his future was bright, her not so much. Sadly for her he made more money, had a nice house, a fast luxury car but also was abusive and a serial cheater. When she showed up four months later with a black eye and one suitcase Bob shut the door in her face. That was the last time he ever saw her and the last serious relationship he's ever had.
"How has she changed that's made you think she's cheating?" It was slow so he had time to devote to the stranger.
"She used to be so nice and sweet. We would talk all the time about anything. Spend time together. Now, she comes home late. Doesn't talk to me except to complain about something. We haven't been out together in weeks. She always has some lame excuse. She's even missed family events and my birthday. Not even a fucking card! Even the kids have noticed"
"Maybe she's dealing with something at work." Trying to give the guy some hope.
