The last drunk having left, Tom slowly stood up and somberly retrieved the mop.

People did come to drink to births and engagements… But far too many came to drink away deaths, sadnesses, pains. Day after day after day, Martin drank away a divorce, Stuart a lost job, Peter a death, among others.

Every drink he served them and every coin they paid only served to testify to the depths of their pain.

So day after day, when they had drunk as much as they could, Tom had to stand and wipe away what had spilled from their broken dreams.


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