Everyone Returns to Joe's
The first sight after the wrought iron balconies above the entrance, was the rows after rows of bottles of rum, cognac, curacao, of every ingredient ever known to man to create a delicious cocktail, seemingly unchanged in what seemed like a hundred years.
Standing in the middle of the reconstructed Sloppy Joe's, familiar guajira playing softly in the background, Jack's eyes wandered along the walls filled with hundreds of black and white photographs that were rescued from the devastating fire in the '60s, peacefully coinciding with the new photos, full colour, of tourists old and new, a virtual tapestry of history between countries once friendly.
There was a picture among the others which brought Jack to a halt and turned his blithesome grin to one of heartfelt recollection, his hand instinctively searching Will's, overcome with emotion.
Seeing themselves in the past like that, donned in their panama hats and linen suits, black and white shoes, those smiles on their faces right before it had all gone to hell, there weren't words that fit the situation.
Slowly, ignoring the bartender, Jack pulled Will closer and pointed at the photograph, at himself with his arm around Will's shoulders, foot brashly on the peg of the high seat, looking like there was not a care in the world. At Will holding up a daiquiri with a wide smile alighting his face, the giddy blush on his cheeks almost visible in the brown hues of the old picture.
"Can I get you gentlemen anything?" The bartender hollered jovially.
"Two daiquiris," the men ordered simultaneously without veering their eyes from whatever it was they were staring. "Coming up," the tapster got to work. "Find someone you know up there?," the man made conversation while pouring the white rum.
"You could say that," Will smiled at Jack, nodding towards the bartender, then towards the door. Receiving a nod in return, the men strolled outside to find a table, to bask in the Cuban sun, and their memories, leaving the young man inside staring at the men from a bygone era depicted on the thick, heavy cardboard.