August 3, 1998

Today was a hectic day. It seemed that everyone in the city came to the bar to drown away their sorrows. William never even showed up, the bastard. I am always counting on him and he always leaves me high and dry. Maybe it's a lesson I need to learn..

Anyhow, I pulled a double today. Mitch was home sick so I had to tend the whole bar by myself. I am not complaining, because the money was great. I made well over $600 in tips tonight alone.

The usual crowd poured in about eight o'clock. It was a group of four men, loud and cantankerous in taste. I sat behind the counter, wiping it down when they waltzed in. They sat right up front and demanded I make them Screwdrivers and to "keep 'em comin". I smirked a bit and shot back at them.

I told them, "It seems you've already had your fill tonight fellas, and it's not even last call yet." The men didn't seem to take the joke too well and began to become obnoxious. They yelled and demanded I give them what they want, and began to slam their fists down on the counter in front of me.

As they broke a bottle and aimed it for my head, I reached under the counter for my Beretta. Thank God I kept that spare gunpowder and box of rounds so close. Here lately, you never know what will happen.

Just when I thought I was going to have to go all "Rambo" in Jack's Bar, this woman stood out from the crowd in the back. She walked up to the counter and spun one of the men around. It was kinda sexy now that I think about it.

I mean, I am a man who likes the feminine ladies. You know, the ones with dark hair, dark eyes, little to nothing upstairs, and curves that would throw a Volvo off the road. But she was completely different.

She had the dark hair, but her eyes were blue and she stood stout, like a man. She was wearing this black miniskirt with a matching halter top. But the weird thing is, she was masculine. It looked like she had been working out for years.

She spoke in a low, strict tone.

She said to the big guy, the one wearing the biker jacket and boots, "Look, if you know what's good for you, you'll leave now and this way, the bartender here won't have to worry about the cleanup."

It kind of weirded me out. The more she talked, trying to be intimidating, it only made her more sexy.

The guy stood up, smiling and laughing at the woman. "Some dame you are. You think you got the balls to be pushin us around? I'd like to see you try it."

The young woman didn't like it all that much. Her face turned into this smirkish grin, and it was then that I knew she looked familiar. She was that girl mentioned in the news, the one who used to be a member of that special police force. She got suspended because of the accusations she made against that pharmaceutical company. Too bad. It seems she was just drowning her sorrows as well.

It was then, out of nowhere that she looked away, smiled, and then brought a knee right up between the legs of the big man. He dropped the bottle and keeled over, falling to the floor. The bar went silent. She turned to the other guys and smirked.

"You guys want a dose too? Or will you take my advice and beat it," she asked them.

Like scared children, they picked up their fallen comrade and scuttled to the door, leaving abruptly. The woman proceeded to look up at me, still with the smirk on her face.

"Well, at least the trash has been cleaned up for now. I think I'll have a martini, please."

I was in shock. Just like that she had wiped the place clean. The bar went back to its usual dull roar. I snapped out of my trance and poured the lady a martini.

"It's on the house, little lady," I ushered.

She took the drink, smiled, and walked right back to her seat in the back of the bar.

You know, sometimes I hate my job. I hate being around all these people, I sometimes hate living in this town, and I hate dealing with other people's bullshit. But the one thing that makes it bearable is the fact that there never seems to be a dull moment in this place.

I think I'll go to work tomorrow with a smile. And I don't give a shit if William shows up or not. Something tells me that it will be an interesting day.

After all, there is hardly ever a dull moment in Raccoon.