Trigger warning: offensive and insensitive language, racial slurs.
βDidnβt touch! Only looked!β wailed Eddie, the dishwasher at the Q.E.D. Lounge. The waitstaff came running into the kitchen upon hearing a tremendous crash. Shattered crystal covered the kitchen floor β the new shipment of assorted glasses for the loungeβs grand opening.
Eddie huddled in the corner wiping his runny nose on the sleeve of his sweatshirt, whimpering like a frightened boy. Due to that one decisive extra chromosome, Eddie was very much like a child β a 32 year old man with the mind of an eight year old. Just a little thing called Down Syndrome. Eddieβs brother Jay, the maitre dβ, crouched down next to him while everyone stood in stunned silence.
βEddie, accidents happen. Itβs gonna be okβ Jay said calmly. βCβmon, bud. Weβll help you clean up.β
Without hesitation the crew grabbed brooms and dust pans β everyone except Lou, the belligerent bartender.
βDonβt look at me. I ainβt helping!βΒ snarled Lou. βIt was that goddamn retardβs fault. He shouldnβt even be around normal people, fucking mongoloid!βΒ
Jay clenched his fists, eyes glaring at Lou.β Shut your filthy mouth, you miserable son of a bitch! Donβt ever talk about my brother like that!β
Martin Byrnes, manager of the Q.E.D., stormed into the kitchen. βWhat the hellβs going on?!β Slowly he looked around, taking in the whole scene. Martin asked everyone to leave except Eddie, Jay and Lou.
Martin spoke softly. βEddie, it’s ok. Iβm not mad. Can you tell me what happened?β
Eddie glanced over at Lou, then shook his head βnoβ.
βMr. Byrnes is real good to us, Eddie. He deserves the truthβ Jay added encouragingly.
Eddie sniffled and rubbed is swollen eyes. βI saw all the boxes and I was curious, Jay, but I didnβt touch them, cross my heart and hope to die. Then Lou, he came rushing in the back door and pushed me into the boxes and they fell.β
βYou lying freak!β yelled Lou. βI was out back chasing that bum whoβs always looking for a handout. Eddieβs mangy mutt was there and he tore a hole in my pants cuff!β
βYeah, after you kicked him, Iβm sureβ declared Jay.
βOk, Lou. What happened when you came back into the kitchen?β asked Martin. βWere you so ticked off at the dog that maybe you bumped into Eddie?β
βLook, Mr. B. Iβm telling you I didnβt do nothingβ sneered Lou. βWho you gonna believe β this idiot or me?β
βAlright! That’s enough! Whatβs done is done.β Martin sighed. βJay, you and Eddie finish cleaning up in here. Lou, go down to the basement and bring up whatever glasses you can find. Weβre opening tonight as planned.β
Disgruntled, Lou headed for the basement. He remembered a prior shipment of glasses that Martin didnβt particularly like. Rather than return them, they were put in storage. And there they were, two towers of boxes at least four feet fall.
βWhy am I stuck doing this shit job? Whereβs that lazy spic busboy?β Lou grumbled. He walked to the delivery entrance and shouted βHey, Manuel! Get in here!β Then he gave a shrill whistle.
Manuel didnβt answer Louβs command but Eddieβs dog Arlo did. He was still smarting from the swift kick in the ribs from Lou’s pointy patent leather shoe. Arlo growled and inched closer, baring his sharp canines.
Lou backed up as fast as he could but he wasn’t fast enough. Arlo sank his teeth into the bartenderβs calf and wouldnβt let go. He meant business and was out for revenge β for himself and for Eddie.
Spinning around like a whirling dervish, Lou smashed into the stacks of boxes. He fell to the floor as splintered wood and jagged glass rained down on him. As a final coup de grΓ’ce, Arlo lifted his hind leg, pissed on Lou’s patent leather shoes and trotted out the door.
NAR Β© 2023
Itβs all new
Birthday Thursdays
at The Rhythm Section.
No talk, no fuss, no muss.
Just wall-to-wall music!
Stop by and check it out!
π
https://rhythmsection.blog/
The Elephant's Trunk 