Mondays Give Me the Blues

I had made it to the bar in Northern Louisiana with time to spare to meet a few of my friends from the TB Anonymous Group. The blond woman at the door waved me through with her toothy smile and I walked through the room, ignoring the black clad patrons, who looked at me briefly in my jeans and layered tank tops, steel blue on top, white on the bottom, the strap of my big bag of crazy slung across my chest. I sat down at the bar and the bartender grabbed a pint glass and drew my usual Guinness. I thanked him and put the price of the drink in his brandy snifter. He showed me his equally toothy smile and nodded at the tip and went on to pour whiskey and open warm bottles of red liquid and put them on the tray for Ginger who smiled at me as she walked by.

I sipped my Guinness and wiped off my mustache and dug around in my bag for my smokes, fishing one out and lighting it. I surveyed the room. There were a few couples dancing on the dance floor. Some of them were same sex, others traditional. I watched the male and female go go dancers gyrating and swaying to the music. The bar was filling up and it was a good night, even for a Monday night.

We were getting together to plan an after the autumnal solstice party. It would be the last day of summer, and the first day of fall, the day and night would be equal hours. From now on, the nights would be longer and the days more crisp as the seasons turned. I loved the fall and winter, the cooler air turning cold and the trees changing color and then falling away leaving the beautiful skeletons of the trees. Soon it would be Samhain, Halloween, and I was planning a wonderful party for my fellow junkies and I hoped the counselors would come and be a part of the celebration of the Celtic new year.

I reached into my bag again and pulled out my little notebook and was going over the list of things we were bringing to the solstice party. God Speed was hosting it, and he was barbecuing ribs and chicken wings and brats and we were all bringing the sides and desserts. Minnie was bringing her brownies and making homemade honey wheat bread. I was bringing macaroni salad and slaw and fresh green beans and new potatoes. Eric Lover was bringing red beans and rice and Lafayette's No Bad Ju-Ju cornbread, right off the recipe collection from our forum. Westexan was bringing tamales and guacamole dip. Violet was bringing Spanish Rice and enchiladas. The menu went on and on and I was studying it when the bartender came over to me.

"The Boss is upset that you are not sitting at his booth tonight," he said.
"Well, I didn't want to take liberties that are not mine to take," I said.
"He says that when you are here, you and your friends, that you are to use that booth," he informed me.
"Fine, thank the Boss for me then," I said. I got up from the bar and reached for my nearly empty glass but the bartender swept it away from me.
"I'll send Ginger over with a fresh drink," he said.

I went over and sat down. I looked over at the throne. The handsome blond was sitting there, partially obscured by the shadows. He nodded toward me and I did the same, comforted by the shadows he was sitting in. I still preferred not seeing the Lead Counselor's face. I knew he was beautiful, he had to be, but what a terrible beauty.

Finally God Speed and Westexan and Eric Lover came in and went and stopped at the bar first. The bartender motioned to the booth in the back in the dark and they bespoke of libations and the bartender nodded. They came in and sat down with me.

"Glad you guys could make it," I said. "I am so looking forward to the party. I missed Sunday night so much."
"So did I and the forum as well. Any news as to when the site will be back up?" asked God Speed.
"Not yet, but at least we have the other forum to discuss things in and we have our new meeting place," I said, sipping my beer. "How are you doing Westexan?"
"Pretty good," said the pretty, pregnant member of our forum.
"Good to hear," I said. "How are you Eric Lover?"
"Pretty good, tired, working like a dog, trying to keep my mind off things. I started reading the books again," she said. "Thanks bunches for the crossword puzzles and the search word puzzles," The bartender sent Ginger with our drinks and we tipped her, since we were not allowed to pay for our drinks here. She smiled at us and hurried off but I knew sure as God made little green apples that she would be keeping a close eye on this booth, especially with the Boss sitting there on his throne.

Minnie and Violet and Viking Lover and Bullet Sucker came in and sat down. Ginger came over promptly and took orders for their drinks. We chatted and caught up with one another, all of us lamenting the end of the summer and our great rollicking adventure, the little tell tale signs of withdrawal and our homesickness for our regular forum.

We talked about the party we were planning and what we would all be bringing, wringing a promise of a peaceful truce between God Speed and Hoyt. Bullet Sucker said she thought she knew where she could get some honey mead for the party and Viking Lover wanted to make her special spiced cider. I forgot all about the Boss sitting on his throne until Ginger came to the table. She brought us fresh drinks and said, "Aslinn, the boss says you are to come to his office for a moment, he wishes a word with you."
"Okay, thanks Ginger," I said. I grabbed my fresh drink, took a final draw off my cigarette and stubbed it out and slid out of the booth.

I stepped across the bar and to the office door and pecked on it.
"Come in dearest," said the voice of the Boss, loud and clear over the din of the bar. I opened the door and stepped in and sat down. He was sitting there in the shadows, just as I liked for him to be. "How are you this evening, you and all your friends?"
"Fine. We are planning an Autumn Solstice party at God Speed's house. Would you and the other counselors like to attend?" I asked.
"Perhaps. Are you still coping with your website down?" he asked.
"Yes, but we sure miss it. It is funny, but we are really homesick," I said. "Do you ever get that way? Homesick?"
"Yes, I do, though I have never had anyone ask me. It seems like centuries since the last time I was on home ground," he said, a hint of melancholy in his deep voice, a voice I felt vibrating in my chest. "So tell me Aslinn, what sort of things will you be doing at the party?"
"Well, we will be having food and drink and music and God Speed has one of those projectors so we will be sitting outside, watching the events of the last couple of summers on his garage wall, sort of like an outdoor theatre."
"What a wonderful idea. When you watch the events what will you be looking for?" he asked.
"Clues! The Source says that there are clues in this last summer's events that hint at next summer's adventures," I said excitedly. I pulled a cigarette from my purse and the lead counselor pulled an ashtray from his desk drawer. "You don't mind that I smoke?"
"No, though the next time I see you I will bring you some nice sweet Turkish tobacco for you to enjoy," he said. "You sound so excited Aslinn, I can feel the way your little heart is beating, it makes me a little dizzy."

I didn't know what to say about that. I was consciously trying to will my heart to slow down. I wasn't sure why, I just didn't want the counselor to be that tuned into me.
"Did you receive my gift?" he asked.
"Justine?" I asked. "Yes, I did, and I added it to my little collection of first editions."
"It gives me pleasure to know that my book is nestled in with things you cherish, touch, look at and ponder," he said, his voice soft and seductive. "Your counselor says that you have visited with him."
"Yes, I was anxious for him..." I said."I was relieved beyond words."
"Dearest, I want to ask you a question. If you thought I were missing, would you worry?" he asked
"Of course, you are our lead counselor, of course I would worry," I said."Should I worry?"
"No, and don't upset yourself," he said casually.
"I have to go," I said, standing up.
"Aslinn?" he said.
"Yes?" I answered.
"Trust me, just...trust me," he said.
"Good night," I said.
"Good night Aslinn," he said.