Save Me a Spot

Linda has been under the weather this week. I think she’s feeling better, but she seems to be carrying a grudge. The Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt is:

“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is ‘bug.’ Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!”

---

If we were having a beer, you would greet me at the door.

“Hey there.”

“Hi, why are you standing here?”

“The bar is full.”

“Full? It doesn’t look full. I see a couple empty seats.”

“Those first two are out having a smoke, and I think the woman from the far stool is in the ladies’ room.”

“You want to sit outside?”

“No, I don’t like eating with bugs.”

“Let’s grab a table. Something will open up.”

“I don’t like sitting at a table.”

“Neither do I, but I’m not standing here. It’s like we’re waiting for a bus.”

“OK, ok.”

“Hey guys, what are you doing over here?”

“Hi Cheryl. There aren’t enough seats at the bar. The old man doesn’t like bugs, and that’s just as well, because I don’t like the heat.”

“I’d never expect you two to go outside, Dan. But there are two seats at the bar.”

“Huh?”

“That plate and wine glass next to the empty stool…the woman left a few minutes ago, I just haven’t cleared it. I was saving it for you guys.”

“You – are – the – best!”

“My young friend is right, Cheryl, that was very sweet of you.”

“I like having you clowns at the bar, where I can keep an eye on you.”

“I’ll take the stool on the right.”

“Age before beauty.”

“Funny. But, with my bad knee, it’s easier to get up and in from the left.”

“No problem, I can squeeze in here.”

“Excuse me?”

“Oh, I’m sorry ma’am, I didn’t mean anything by that.”

“And ma’am? I’m considerably younger than you, and there’s plenty of room without your having to squeeze in.”

“Nice going Dan. I took the liberty of dressing a Corona for you.”

“Thanks Cheryl. Can you pour the young lady another of whatever she’s drinking and put it on our tab?”

“Sure.”

“Our tab? Excuse me. Your stupid comment – your tab.”

“And what are you drinking?”

“I was going to have wine, Cheryl, but since my young friend is buying, maybe I’ll switch to John Howell’s bourbon.”

“Ice? Seltzer? The whole deal?”

“On second thought, I’ll stick with wine.”

“Speaking of John, did you see his post yesterday?”

“I did, he and Gwen are putting up some good numbers.”

“Well, they wrote a good book, and I loved the trailer.”

“OK, here’s a glass of Meiomi for you, a snifter of seltzer, ‘cuz I never know when you don’t want that, and another Jack and Coke for the lady…courtesy of the man with the foot hanging out of his mouth.”

“Why, thank you. You didn’t have to do that.”

“Oh, he did, really, he has a history with that word.”

“Squeeze?”

“Yep.”

“Now, Cheryl, I wouldn’t call it a history.”

“Let’s see, you told your daughter she could squeeze through the gate. You told your wife you’d move the car so she didn’t have to squeeze in.”

“And, let me guess, he moved the car ten feet to the left.”

“He did. He even told his dog she should be able to squeeze through some opening.”

“Ok, I have a history. I didn’t mean anything by it. It’s a figure of speech.”

“It’s one you should drop from your vocabulary, Dan.”

“Given the company I find myself in, I’d have to agree.”

“Message received, Cheryl, ma’am. Oops, I mean…”

“Wow, maybe you just shouldn’t speak to women.”

“I get that a lot…sorry.”

“Do I need to switch seats with you?”

“No, I’m fine. Can we talk about something else?”

“Before you go off on a safe topic, are you boys going to want any food?”

“I’m in a seafood mood, Cheryl. Are you still serving chowder?”

“Chowder is always on the menu.”

“Chowder, in this heat…what’s wrong with you?”

“It’s not hot in here. I’ll have a bowl of chowder and an order of mussels.”

“That does sound good. I’ll skip the soup, but yes on the mussels.”

“Sweet, I’ll get those orders in.”

“Since we’re changing the subject, is it my imagination, or are your blog posts getting shorter?”

“I have had a few recently that have been well under my target word count.”

“Which is?”

“Eight hundred.”

“I see. What’s driving it down, sympathy for your readers?”

“Well, I did have a couple extra posts in the mix, Father’s Day and the props for John’s book, but mainly it’s the warm weather.”

“How does the weather factor in?”

“I find myself doing other things – less time to write.”

“Your chowder is up.”

“Oooh, that looks great. Thanks Cheryl.”

“It’s always good, and despite the weather, we sell gallons of it. You boys want another round before the mussels are out?”

“I think that’s a safe assumption.”

“You know, if the warm weather causes you to write less, I have a suggestion for you.”

“What’s that?”

“Consider moving to Florida when you retire.”

---

Today’s gallery is a mix. Sorry if some of it makes you hungry. Be sure to check out Cheryl’s latest project.