I took the week between Christmas and New Years off from my day job, so I decided to fill my hours with bartending shifts to get myself on steadier footing after Christmas shopping. The seasonal affect of making a dive bar crowded on a Tuesday night is a magical thing. And I was there to do God’s will- pushing along the holiday suicides. These bartending shifts are how I met Carol.
Carol, the temporary co-worker. I knew about Carol before I even set eyes on Carol. I knew she was impatient, whiney, and hated by all the bartenders. By the time I saw the freckles, I had already made up my mind that I would despise her.
She would pester me for drinks while I served half the bar. And I would tune her out. But despising be damned, we struck up a sort-of banter. She’d push me, and I’d shove her back. She would ignore anything I asked her, because I was only a temp bartender. I just told her that I didn’t have to worry about her feelings, for the same exact reason.
Carol went and picked up Chinese take-out on her thirty minute break, I slid her over a cape codder, and put some beer in my glass. We shared a meal, and sparse conversation, while waiting for last call. It hit me that I didn’t even ask her age until after serving her drink, but I honestly didn’t even bother to care. I vaguely recalled her talking about applying to grad school…and I was correct as she had just turned twenty-one.
I told her that she was on my hit-list, and she’d be my mortal enemy for the next few shifts.. She talked about wanting to be a nurse, and I pretended to pay close attention. I was distracted. Visions of not quite sugarplums were dancing around in my head. I thought about other girls, and I picked apart her facial jewelry.
