The bar opened at noon. Lacey had been busy all morning cleaning up the place and stacking the shelves. She restocked the refrigerators and was sitting behind the bar reading a magazine when the first customer came in. It was one of the old boys who never said a word. She poured him his usual and watched him take it over to a table in the very corner where he could sit in silence.
Her boss had come and gone. He had checked in with her first thing and then left for the day, saying he would be back in the evening sometime. Lacey poured herself a glass of water and went back to her magazine. The air conditioning was on, but it was still sweltering in there, so she fanned herself with a stack of unopened letters that had been piling up for weeks.
The door opened and Lacey looked up. She froze as she realized it was Charlene. She looked drunk already and like she was wearing the previous night’s clothes and make-up.
“Hey, Lace,” she drawled, “How are ya?”
“Fine,” she smiled. “Apart from being deliriously tired…”
“Oh?” Charlene smirked but pretended not to know what she was talking about.
“Last night Charlene,” she shook her head. “It was ridiculous.”
“What was?”
“The noise… the shouting and then the…” she trailed off, embarrassed.
Charlene stared at her and burst out laughing.
“Shit, sorry Lace,” she shrugged, “Didn’t mean to keep you up.”
Lacey shook her head and brushed it off. She picked up a glass and started to clean it to make it look like she was busy and didn’t have time for conversation.
“So,” she said, “How can I help you?”
“I’d love a drink,” Charlene grinned. “Whiskey.”
“Seriously?” Lacey asked putting the glass down. “This is a bit far for you to come for just a drink, isn’t it?”
Charlene smiled and shrugged. “Is it?”
“Well, yeah, I’d say so.” Lacey looked at her suspiciously. “I mean you hardly ever come in here.”
“Just catching up with my friend is all,” Charlene said, pinching Lacey playfully on the arm and smiling.
“Okay,” Lacey said, “What’s going on?”
“Get me that drink, will ya?” Charlene scratched the back of her neck. “I feel a bit jittery.”
Sighing, Lacey poured her the whiskey and slid it across to her.
“That’ll be three ninety-five,” Lacey said as she held out her hand.
Charlene’s mouth dropped open slightly before she smiled and said, “Oh, just put it on my tab.”
She swigged the whiskey down and then slammed the glass down on the counter before saying, “And I’ll take another.”
“Charlene, you don’t have a tab… You know we don’t do that here,” Lacey said sternly.
“Oh come on,” she pleaded, “Help a sister out.”
Lacey bit her tongue and scrunched up her fists. She and Charlene had never been close friends and it always seemed like she only came to Lacey when she wanted something. Lacey was tired and pissed off and that was all Charlene’s fault… and now she had the audacity to walk into her place of work and ask for free drinks and favors. She dreaded to think what was coming next.
“So what’s going on, Charlene? What do I owe the pleasure?”
Charlene nudged the glass towards her again and smiled with wide eyes. Lacey shook her head, and Charlene crossed her arms defensively over her chest and pouted.
“I’m in trouble,” she said reluctantly, “I need your help.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Lacey said.
She turned back to the bar and opened the refrigerator before pulling herself out a beer.
“Looks like I’m going to need a drink too, huh?” Lacey said as she took a swig. “Go on then, what’s happened now?”
Charlene shifted on the spot and ran her hands through her hair.
“I owe someone money,” she said quietly, “And they won’t wait for it.”
“Sounds like they were prepared to wait last night,” Lacey said angrily.
“No,” Charlene shook her head. “That wasn’t them… Last night it was my old boyfriend. He came around causing trouble and we had a fight but then we, well… We made up…” she smiled shyly.
“Yeah, I heard,” Lacey took another swig of her beer.
“I am really sorry about that,” Charlene said genuinely as she reached across the bar and grasped Lacey’s hand. “I need your help, Lacey… Please?”
Lacey looked at her and knew there was no way she could turn her down. Even though she was angry and broke… she knew when someone was really in need.
“Okay, how much?” Lacey sighed.
Charlene bit her bottom lip and covered her eyes before exhaling deeply and peeking out from underneath her hands.
“Four thousand dollars,” she whispered.
Lacey almost dropped her beer.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Lacey said as she sat back down on the stool and took hold of the beer. “Jesus, I’m going to need something much stronger than this.”