Bleeding shirtless guy just stands there looking at me,

posted by jeremy on May 02, 2006

a belt wrapped around his fist. It's a Saturday night at the R-Bar & this guy is trying to get at three scared looking college kids. I start to ask bleeding guy what, exactly, this is all about... But before I can even get the full question out he screams, Get the fuck away from me! & nearly shoves me to the ground. I back up, sigh, & then slowly circle him, herding him towards the door. Friend, I say in a friendly tone, you now have to go.

The rest of my shift is nearly as weird. Bleeding guy shows up a few more times, obviously cracked out on something. He's friends with someone who works there so we don't call the cops. A few times he yells that we should, must, need to call the cops. He's been beat up, he's been mugged, he's been something! Motherfucker! I just keep my distance, tell him to go home, get some sleep, brother, you don't want us to call the cops... Nevertheless, the cops pick him up anyway & he ends up cooling it in the clink. This is as a storm rips the trees outside, drives rain thru the open doors... The power begins to cut in, cut out, out, out. I rush about, throwing candles on tables & shelves. Couples make out in the corner, patrons laugh & holler. Kat & I slam shots of Jameson & laugh at the madness of all of this, the romance of its fuckery.

Somebody in the flickering expanse of our dim bar yells Life in the 3rd world, baby!!! & it isn't a curse or just mere fact, it's a goddam blessing...

Bring it on, baby, O you lovely fucked-up bitch. I love your crazy style...