LAST CUBA LIBRE

LEO

Greta's friends have shoved their tongues down my throat one by one and I haven't pulled back, even if I'm now afraid I've got mononucleosis or some other disgusting disease... I pick up the glass I had placed on the bar counter and finish my Jungle. A little later Claudio arrives and suggests another round, but the barman checks the time on his Swatch and shakes his head. He says that it is prohibited to sell alcohol after two in the morning. Claudio starts laughing, then he tries to bribe him, pulling two 100 euro notes out of his pocket. The barman grabs the banknotes and shoves them into the back pocket of his jeans, asking "What will you have?"

"A Kamikaze for me," says Claudio irritably. "And two Bloody Mary's for my friends."

"OK," says the barman. First he makes the Kamikaze mixing in a cocktail glass full of ice, vodka, triple sec and another concoction called Rose's Lime.

"I needed that," says Claudio taking another sip. Then, speaking to Tony, "When are you going to dump her?" He nods towards Greta.

Tony shrugs and says, "Never." He pauses and observes the barman pouring tomato juice and vodka into the glasses, adding lime juice, Worcester sauce, Tabasco, ordinary salt, celery salt and pepper.

"Do you still use her?" asks Claudio.

"No," says Tony, "But I can't stand the idea of anyone else using her."

"What nonsense!" retorts Claudio. "You can't keep all the girls you're not using any more just because you don't like the idea of leaving them to others. What are you doing, collecting them?"

"What can I do?" sighs Tony. "Perhaps I should become a Muslim. You know? Have lots of wives." He takes his Bloody Mary and sips through the straw.

Claudio shakes his head. "You're ruining your life," he says to Tony, then he lights a cigarette and takes a long drag, narrowing his eyes.

"Look," I say to Claudio, "What the shit do you care?"

"I don't," answers Claudio.