The Vault

Last Call

*Award Winner 2020

"Last call for drinks at the bar!" The D.J said in a watered down cheer.

I couldn't grasp why he had announced this so late in the evening as almost all of the guests had left already. I stood behind the bar, swiftly wiping a cocktail shaker clean of it's left over sludge. I glanced at the tip jar with a dense exhale.

"Mom was right,"I muttered, "I should've stayed in school..."

I had recently taken a gap year in between my college classes due to me weaving in and out of interest with my business major. At first it seemed like a good idea; A year off just to myself. However, it was the complete opposite. Rather than sitting in front of the t.v & cracking a cold one, it was filled with my father raging about all the bills I owed him. Those bills being the reason I ended up here - The Anderson's Country Club.
I applied for a bartending position here in hopes to shut my father's trap - at least for awhile. It's a good gig. The occasional golf outings & bridal showers make decent cash, but the weddings are where it's at!

Weddings bring in boatloads of cash, whether it's by the hour or tips, you're guaranteed some green. In this case however, it was anything but. This specific occasion was full of cocky, pretentious, rich folks.

Who knew being so rich meant you couldn't spare a dollar for the working class?

I set the shaker to the side. There wasn't a soul in sight, so much so that the owners switched the over head lights on. I became blinded - holding a hand in front of my eyes. After the initial burn of the lights eased, my hand slowly retrieved to my side.
In the beam of raw light, a sudden face appeared. My skin seemed to jump.

"I heard it was last call?" The face emanated.

"Ye-Ah, Uh, what can I get you, sir?" I stuttered to spit out words.

As a bartender, you learn to quietly examine people you're serving & This man was quite a sight to see.

He wore silk-black suit with a burgundy shirt underneath. He must've spilled something on it because there appeared to be a dime sized stain on the left side of the collar. His chin was lined with a sleek beard, darker than coal. To compliment his dark hair ,were his eyes. They seemed to pierce through me like a sewing needle. Being one to judge, he looked fairly young - late twenties possibly.

He raised an eyebrow to think, "How about a Jack & Coke?"

His voice sounded like gravel in a blender.

"Yessir!"

Though off put, I tried the best I could to put on the Peppy character our bosses encouraged.

I turned my back to him. I was met with shelves of alcohol that only an alcoholic would dream of. My eyes flickered through the bottles, not only to hurriedly find the liquor , but also in hopes to move this last call along. My hand finally met the abused Jack Daniels bottle when the man spoke again.

"So, How's your night been?"

"Eh,"I say tipping one shot into the rock glass, "It's been alright... You?"

I heard him scoff, along with what also sounded like him shift in his chair.

"Well, it's been rough, but that's why guys like you have these types of jobs, huh?" He answered.

I couldn't tell whether he was legitimately asking me this or if this was his attempt at making a self-pitying joke - I chuckled nonetheless.
I turned back around to face him once more. I took the soda gun and carefully filled the remaining space of the rock glass with , not Coke, but Pepsi. Hopefully he won't notice the difference.
Once filled, I gracefully passed the glass off to him. He didn't seem to budge at my gesture, resulting in me awkwardly setting it in between the two of us.
The man now had his head resting on his arm. His expression was vague and untouched by my presence. He didn't seem to be enjoying our time together.

A few minutes had passed by of odd silence and faded out background noise from the D.J. My toes were beginning to spin to the sink to the left of me, when he announced once more.

"Did you hear the news lately?" His puppy dog eyes pondered to mine.

I stopped in my tracks.

The news? Come on man, I just wanna go home.

I rolled my eyes,"No, I uh I haven't actually, don't watch the news much."

I let out a small laugh, fake enough you could call it Barbie.

"Apparently there was a murder..."

His voice trailed off as his lips finally met his drink.

"A Murder?" I questioned.

"Yeah,"He rose his chin, "A stabbing victim."

At this point I was so intrigued I forgot I was at work. I stepped closer to him, being drawn to his voice.

"What else did they say?" I tried not to sound morbidly excited.

He smirked causing that dark chin strap of his to inch back to his ears. Readjusting himself, he catty cornered me across the counter.

"Young woman, mid twenties maybe..."

My eyes widened & my stomach tied a knot.

"That's awful,"My voice quivered.

He tipped his head in agreement to me, again, taking a sip of his drink.

"Did they say where?"

"Oh yes, it wasn't far from here, just before the gates of this club." His voice was nonchalant.

I nod in acceptance until I initially registered what he had just said. We both stared at each other now.

"I-I'm sorry what?"A lump formed in my throat.

"Yeah, right outside the entrance gate it happened."

The room was silent, nothing but the air conditioner could be heard. I stayed frozen in my place across from him.

"And when did you say this took place?" I faintly whimpered.

"Few hours , give or take,"He playfully batted his hand to me.

I remain where I stood, it was like my feet were drilled to the floor. He noted my expression and slowly arose from his stool. As he got to his feet, he adjusted his silk jacket.

"I didn't mean to do it,"He continued, "She was just getting too bloody annoying on the way here."

He pulled a dollar bill from his coat pocket, a small red thumbprint taking up the corner of it. He wavered it as if stating it was real, & gave me a great big smile. He then placed it on the counter next to his empty glass.

"Good night to you, and may I say you make a very good drink, sir."

From there he left the bar side and disappeared through the ball room exit.