A quick look around the bar reveals two women to your left, a seat away from a middle-aged man drinking a beer. (The ladies were both drinking red wine). At the opposite end, a slightly older than middle-aged man drinks the same type of beer and fiddles with his pda. (First man is watching espn). On the right side of the bar, a woman drinks a glass of white wine and struggles to keep up the chatterboxes on either side of her. To her right, a slightly younger than middle-aged man in a suit and tie drinks a similar glass of white wine. To her left, a younger man in a similar looking suit has ordered a martini but hasn’t touched it yet. As you come back around, your sangria has arrived. You take a sip, and stretch your fingers. Two men have joined the ladies to your left. You heard them order liquor cocktails. All the way back on the right side, two older gentlemen have entered and stand (possibly, because there aren’t very many stools) and order two of the same beers that first and second men are drinking. Still minding their own respective business are these two). Meanwhile, a trip of older men have taken a seat and ordered three of the same beers! Back around again. You’ve lit a smoke and the chunks of muddled fruit you keep pulling up through your straw are starting to annoy you. To your left again and nothing much has changed. Although one woman’s red wine has turned white. Now they welcome another man with a small bald spot who promptly received a beer. (Type unknown as the mirror is blocking your view). First man is served another beer and holds a two-second conversation with a bartender. Second man rests his hand on his chin and stares off. But now he’s gone! You looked down for a second and you missed him leave. His beer bottle still sits. The trio on the right are wearing nametags and not touching the small bowl of mixed nuts in front of them. Back around again, and the table in the corner is quiet and low maintenance. A manager is getting change from a bartender. For some reason, it’s a ten-minute procedure. You are half done with your drink. A woman has joined the now rather large group to your left, and is drinking a clear liquor drink and smoking. First man has given his seat for her. One of the first gentlemen leaves. First man now stands and watches espn. He talks to a bartender (there are two). Another man enters with sunglasses on (?) and sits next to smoking girl. To the right, the older man of the trio (who simply must dye his hair and go tanning) is on the phone. Young chatterbox is happy to monopolize the poor woman’s time. Back around again, you’re done with your sangria, have asked for time to think about what you want next, lit another smoke, and are feeling a little parched. What will quench your thirst? Someone interesting, that’s what. A man with bad skin, and glasses in a bartender uniform has entered, placed one foot on the footrest bar and is talking with bartender two. An amiable conversation. White or red? Something not so sweet. You caught bartender one looking at you just now. The trio to your right gets up and leaves simultaneously. Bartender one drops a glass of chivas into the ice well. It doesn’t break. He rinses. First man has paid and been pushed down so far that he must crane his neck awkwardly to watch his precious espn now. Ever-faithful watcher. A man, a younger one-slightly older than your boyfriend or maybe the same age- with a blue polo shirt has taken a seat and ordered a clear liquor drink. He sits, crosses his arms, then un-crosses them, then crosses them again.
He keeps looking out the door, then at the TV, then down at his phone. Now he scratches his arm, now he lights a smoke, and talks to bartender 2. Bartender one cuts lemons. Your hand starts to cramp. A couple, a relatively attractive one, joins nervous guy who articulates something, gesturing wildly with his hands. You feel bad for that guy should he ever decide to quit smoking. You see one water with lemon placed on the bar near nervous guy. A quick lean to the right reveals the boyfriend/husband pouring a beer into a frosted mug. He takes a seat and pops a handful of nuts into his mouth. An older heavy women orders a cranberry and vodka, pays and leaves. Bartender one holds a small conversation with girlfriend/wife and keeps inching towards the door. Bartender two taps his fingers on his micros screen. Bartender one finishes his conversation and heads out to smoke. Wife/girlfriend with long sleeves and a scarf wrapped around her neck, returns to her party, takes a seat to the right of nervous guy and lights a smoke. The party to your left is not very interesting. Talk, talk, smoke, order another drink, talk. Standard barfly behavior. Bartender two disappears shortly, returns with a large stack of Styrofoam cups, and proceeds to divvy them out to the various corners. The table trio has pretty much passed out in the chairs. Well, they might as well go ahead. They’re just beyond your line of sight and you don’t want to seem obvious. Tall man with mustache and green polo shirt enters and stands at the opposite end for a minute, fiddles with his phone and finally takes a seat when a shorthaired woman in a sweater set enters and is served a glass of white wine immediately. Here he goes, he orders a Budweiser, a perfectly good waste of $5 in your opinion and starts to pick around in the bowl of mixed nuts. Sweater-set lady looks sad, stares off somewhere. Maybe she’s eavesdropping! There’s only room for one character student in this bar, lady! Nervous guy has lit a smoke and pulled his leg up, resting his ankle on one knee and his elbow on the chair arm. He almost looks comfortable for a minute. Here he goes again, scratching that arm. Get some excema medication, man! One of the table trio men has approached the bar. He’s ordered something apparently so difficult, bartender two cannot handle it. To close out, you realize. Sweater-set leaves. A much older gentleman in a suit and tie enters, clutching a briefcase with a younger, frizzy-haired woman in a long ugly shirt at his heels. They both wear glasses. She sits, he stands. He says something to her, which she listens to while playing with her earring. Bartender two prepares a glass of white wine, and a clear cocktail with a twist of lemon, adds a couple more ice cubes to the cocktail and brings it over to them. Budweiser green polo plays with his fingers and watches espn. Solo woman with strange bouffant hair-do takes a seat and orders an appletini. This tickles you pink and makes you think of Scrubs. Young, professional man in a power tie enters with a young semi-plain jane looking woman and takes a seat at one of the tables. You light a cigarette. “Seven-fifty” bartender one hollers to appletini. Old glasses briefcase man chews on something and looks bored while his companion talks. Group is constant. Budweiser leaves. Appletini sips. Table trip still sits. Professional man and plain-jane secretary whisper. What are they drinking? Be smooth. Two glasses of red wine and two waters. How predictable. He’s removed his jacket. You’re drinking a red bull. Appletini leaves. Boo. This is the happy hour bar in the CBD. This is the dynamic. You’re very annoyed with the way you hold the pen. Therefore, you decide to stop. Plus, you hate writing on the bottom line.
