The Deer, Amanda & other Short Stories

by Dustin De Felice

  ~~**~~

  Hey

  "Hey! You can't bring that in here!" Jacky turned to Tony and pointed to the man walking into the bar. “Look at this fruitcake.” He watched as the man continued walking towards the bar. "Are you deaf or something, buddy. I just said you can't bring that in here." He laid his hands on the bar, leaned forward and spread his fingers to support his weight. "Are you listening to me?"

  The man sat down in front of the bartender and pulled another stool close to him. He placed his cat on that stool and turned towards Jacky.

  "Listen Mack, you can't bring that thing in here!" Jacky rubbed at the stubble on his square chin and shook his head. He watched as the man brushed at his brown hair and scratched at his nose. "Do you speak English?"

  "One Old Style and a glass of water with a twist of lemon."

  "Meow."

  The man turned to his cat and patted her head. "Could you put the beer in a saucer?"

  Jacky looked at the man, who seemed to be in his late twenties. He was wearing a white cotton sweater with navigation flags over his chest and khaki brown pants. Jacky nodded to his boss, who had stopped counting the receipts and had taken an interest in the customer. “I’ll take care of it, boss.” He looked back at the man. “I don’t make the rules, bub, but I can't serve that cat!"

  The cat put its hind legs on the bar and started sniffing the bowl of stale peanuts. "Meow." She knocked a few peanuts out of the bowl with her paw and they fell onto the counter. After sniffing them for a few moments, she started licking them.

  Jacky grabbed the bowl and tossed its remaining contents into the trash. "I’m going to have to ask you to take your cat elsewhere."

  The man looked up at the imposing bartender. "My friend has a name, it's Nicole."

  "Listen, I don’t care if your cat is the Pope, I can't serve Nicole, uh, I mean the cat. If a city inspector walked in here right now I would be looking for another job, so please, take your cat home."

  The man scratched behind Nicole's ears and ran his hand over her head. "One Old Style and a water with a twist of lemon, please."

  Jacky held up his hand to stop his boss as he started walking over. "You seem like a decent sort of fella, so will please take the cat outside?"

  The man fingered the frayed end of his sweater and flicked some lint off his shoulder. He ran his finger through his short brown hair and looked around the bar while leaning closer to Jacky. "Could you put the beer in a saucer?"

  Jacky tossed the peanut dish onto the counter and started walking around the bar. “That’s does it!” He ducked his head and turned sideways to fit his large frame through the side of bar. "I’m going to have to escort-” The door to the bar swung open and two hulking men walked in one after the other.

  "Ey, Tony. How are ya, Jacky?"

  "Not too bad, Steve. What's new Carlos?" Tony moved down the bar and stood in front of the man.

  Both men walked to the bar and grabbed a stool. Steve sat next to the cat.

  "Nice pussy. Is that yours?"

  Jacky came around the bar and walked towards the man. "Yes, it's his and they were just leaving."

  "Leaving? Why so soon?" Steve grabbed the peanut dish and found it empty. "Suppose I could get some peanuts when you're done throwing out the cute couple."

  Tony grabbed the dish and walked over to the cash register. "I gotcha." He reached down and dunked the dish into the large bag of peanuts under the counter. He leveled the dish off and slid it down to Steve. "Enjoy. Jacky, get this guy and his cat out of here!"

  Jacky cocked his eyebrow at Tony. "What do you think I’m doin? Get Carlos and Steve a beer, would ja!"

  Tony waved him off. "Yea, yea, yea."

  Steve leaned over and rubbed the cat's head. "Pretty damn cute. It’s a girl?"

  The man nodded and returned his attention to Jacky.

  "Well, darling, what do you suppose would happen if I bought ya a little saucer of milk and showed you a good time?" Steve laughed and tossed down half of his beer. "Don't you think we would make a great couple?"

  Carlos lugged him in the shoulder. "Drink your beer and leave the poor cat alone."

  “Hey, pussy’s pussy, right?” Steve finished off the beer and slid the empty down the bar.

  "Let's go pal." Jacky reached down to grab the man’s arm.

  The man turned from Jacky and glared at Steve. "Could I ask you to be a little more polite in front of the lady?"

  Steve looked from Carlos to Tony to Jacky and then back at the man. "Are ya serious, bub? I didn't mean to offend the lady." He bent down and gave the cat a puppy dog face. "I'm sorry young lady, but I didn't mean to offend you."

  Nicole moved her head close to Steve, sniffed his face and then licked his nose.

  He laughed. "Look at that. I guess I'm forgiven."

  "It looks like you got a lady for the night." Carlos finished the last half of his beer and called for another.