The Barmaid's Contract

1.

I unlocked the last door, officially opening the pub for the day. It was right on ten o'clock and I had two hours to myself before the locals came in.

I pulled down all the stools and put down fresh coasters before flipping on the television screens for the sport lovers.

I sat on the bar stool on my side of the bar and read today's edition of the local paper. I even do the crosswords if there is enough time.

Doodling on the dog ears of the paper, I stared out in to space.

"Hey Red."

I looked up and saw the first of my usual morning regulars.

"Sam." I smiled as I poured him his beer.

John followed shortly afterwards and within minutes, Sam, John, Eggs, Donny and Pete were in having a laugh and beers.

"You stuck there, Red?" Pete asked.

I glazed over at him. "Nah, just thinking."

In that instant, I knew, I left myself open.

"Don't think to hard, it's hard to tell if that hair of yours is already on fire or not." The blokes laughed at John's joke.

I glared at him. "You know what, Johnny, if laughter is the best medicine, you're curing the world." I eyed him as I sauntered away, leaving the blokes cracking up.

I turned on the surround system for the music and played on some much loved eighties styled music. I greeted Amy who arrived for her shift in the kitchen and went back to the bar.

I sat back on my stool, tapping away to the music when it came to me.

Another name for a whirlybirds is an eggbeater. I quickly jotted down the answer in the crossword before topping up the fellas beers.

The day dragged on and my shift didn't finish for another six hours. I didn't mind. I had no where else to go. The blokes usually have a beer with me before I walk my ass home, that was only about a ten minute walk away.

I twirled my red hair on my finger as I laughed at some of the jokes. Amy had finished her shift in the kitchen and came to the bar while I did a quick run on collecting the empty beer glasses.

I adored the locals. Well, most of them. There is a group of four that gave me the creeps and I avoided as much conversation as possible with them.

"Hey, Red, come here a second." I turned to the voice and saw to my surprise, Johnny, another regular, sitting with two of the creeps.

"What's up?" I faked my smile.

"I was just telling the boys that you ain't as bad as they think you are."

My eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yeah, I was telling them how great you are. How you are a nice young one."

I smiled wickedly at them. "Oh. I'm not nice." Johnny chuckled at me as I grinned wider.

"I'm gonna get another beer." Johnny left the table and I went to go too. knowing damn well these two idgits will start.

"Yo, Red, was it?" One looked at me quite smugly. I didn't like it. "When ya knock off, come sit. We'll have a chat."

I tried thinking of his name but it wouldn't come to me. His buddy, Ben, smiled. "Oh, I wouldn't want to offend your boyfriend." I told him innocently. I saw Mark turn and grin, patting the shoulders of his mates.

"What? No. He ain't that."

"Then I'm not interested." I said saucily to him.

"You like a bit of dirty play?" He sneered at me and if I wasn't being watched, I would have taken that a different way, but I opened my mouth and even surprised myself by what I said.