David and I are here. Here is the bar we visit every Saturday to unwind after a busy week. We come, we treat ourselves to an adult beverage and sometimes we have something to eat. These days, things around the bar are quiet. People here in the U.S. are preparing for one of our major holidays – Thanksgiving is this coming this Thursday. People are shopping, cleaning and many people are traveling or preparing to travel. We are not. While we’re here, we will make an attempt to handle Linda’s prompt.
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “use ‘just’ in your first sentence.” Use the word “just” any way you’d like in your first sentence, then just write to your heart’s content. Enjoy!
If we were having a beer, you’d be arriving a little late.
“Hi Dan, sorry I’m late, I hope you just got here.”
“I’ve been here quite some time, David. I’m surprised that you’re late. That’s unlike you.”
“And it’s unlike you to be at the bar for any length of time without ordering a beer. I think you’re pulling my leg. Curley, how long has my young friend been here?”
“Dan? He just got here. I was just coming over to see what you guys want to drink – the usual?”
“Yes. A John Howell’s Bourbon Special for me and a cold Modelo draft for Dan.”
“Coming right up David.”
“Oh, and Curley, you forgot the cherries last week.”
“Sorry, David.”
“One more thing, Curley, Dan is paying today.”
“What? Why am I paying?”
“Punishment for trying to trick me into feeling bad.”
“Here you go David. A glass of John Howell’s Bourbon, a snifter of seltzer, a glass of ice and three cherries. Dan, here’s your beer.”
“Maybe I should start jazzing that up a bit, Curley. Seems kinda bland by comparison to his nibs.”
“Don’t do that, Dan. I need more customers like you. David orders one drink, spreads it across three glasses and complains when I forget an unnecessary ingredient.”
“Well, David’s complicated, Curley.”
“In case you two forgot, David is right here. You know, the guy with the bourbon.”
“We didn’t forget. Cheers, David.”
“Cheers, Dan. Hey, did I see that you joined that blue sky thing?”
“Bluesky. It’s one word. Yes, I signed up. A bunch of people did.”
“Why?”
“It’s another social media platform. A lot of people are leaving Twitter, and Bluesky is kinda the way Twitter used to be.”
“Used to be? What, two years ago? Is that the new definition of the good old days?”
“Things change, David, and on the Internet, things change fast. It’s just a place to connect.”
“Dan, this is a place to connect. This is social. I don’t go in for those other things.”
“I know, David. You prefer the…what shall we say…tangible?”
“Real. I prefer that which is real, Dan.”
“Social media lets us connect where real doesn’t work, David. I’m connected to people in other states, other countries—.”
“Other worlds?”
“Other worlds? No, not really, but it’s fun to think about.”
“No Star Trek? No Twilight Zone?”
“Well, yes, they’re out there. So is NASA. I guess I am connected to other worlds, David.”
“I sometimes wonder if you’re connected to this world, Dan.”
“You boys want anything to eat today?”
“Not today, Curley.”
“Wait a minute, David. Since you stuck me with the tab, I should be making that call. Curley, we’ll have some Teagan’s Stuffed Mushrooms.”
“Teagan. I suppose Teagan is out there in the blue skies.”
“Bluesky, David. One word. And yes, Teagan is out there. So is Sally Cronin and John Howell, and Linda Hill, and Hugh Roberts, and the Story Reading Ape; and lots of others.”
“Will you still have time to socialize here…with me?”
“Of course.”
Some of the pictures in the gallery were taken by my wife. I inadvertently put my watermark on all of them, sorry.
All five of my current books are now available in audio book form thanks to Amazon KDP’s Virtual Voice process. The voice is AI generated, but I can honestly say, it’s pretty darn good. The audio books are reasonably priced (all below $7 US) and, if you already own the Kindle version and want to add an audio version, you can do that for $1.99. There is a five-minute sample on the book page for each book. If you’re interested, click on any of the Dreamer’s Alliance book links below the image or on the link below for my latest book.
No Facilities 
Add your thoughts or join the discussion. One relevant link is OK, more require moderation.