Huggy Bear was having a busy afternoon at the Pits. One waitress had called in sick. and he had a bigger crowd than usual. Even so, everyone seemed to be laughing and enjoying themselves. Huggy kept his eye on the corner table where two men he instantly labeled "thugs" were sitting. Both men had florid faces, large hands and could pass for "muscle" for a mob boss. Huggy shook his head. If there was trouble, he would bet it would be that table.
Even though it was her day off, Beth Ann hurried in the Pits, grabbed her apron and said breathlessly, "I got here as soon as I could, Huggy. I see it's a good thing I was able to cover for Anita."
"The Bear is extra grateful, Bethie."
"After everything you have done for me, I will help you anytime you need." Beth Ann noticed a table by the door was beckoning and hurried, almost bumping into a young man. "Oh, sorry," she said, looking at the good-looking young man.
The young man was tall, slender, with an abundance of blond hair and eyes as blue as the sky. He smiled shyly, "That's okay. I'm Ken."
"Beth Ann," she responded, smiling widely.
"This is my first time here. Can you tell me what's good?"
"Sure I can. I don't see any empty booths, but you can wait at the bar. I'll let you know when I have an empty place."
"Thanks." Ken made his way to a bar seat.
"New in town?" Huggy Bear asked casually, wiping down a spill.
"A week," Ken responded.
"I'm the owner of this fine establishment, Huggy Bear," Huggy said, sticking out his hand. "I'm a chill guy, but don't aim to lose my liquor license by serving a minor."
Ken laughed. "I'm not as young as you think I am, but I would like some iced tea, please. I'm waiting for a table."
Huggy harrumphed to himself. 'If you're older than a teenager, I'll eat my new hat.'
At the booth where the two men Huggy thought of as "thugs" sat, the larger one with black hair gasped.
"What is it, Sal?" The smaller man asked.
"Do you see that vision of beauty, Joe?"
Joe looked up and saw Beth Ann. Beth Ann would only be thought of as cute by most people. "She's okay; wouldn't call her a beauty."
Sal shot an annoyed glance at Joe. "Not the waitress, you moron. The kid. He's so pretty." Sal kept his gaze on Ken.
Joe snorted. "You know the boss doesn't approve of your 'perversion' as he calls it. Better get any thoughts about the kid out of your mind."
"No! I will never see such a beauty again. And if you tell on me, I'll let the boss know about your pocketing some of the extra money from the drug deal last month."
"He'll kill me! I had to have a little extra money. It was only that one time." Joe pleaded.
"Then help me with the kid, and I'll keep your secret." Sal warned.
Joe signed. "Against my better judgment and we had better not get caught."
Sal pulled out a couple of powder packets. "Sedatives for my sleeping beauty."
Joe grumbled in disgust but took the packets as Sal went to the phone. "Damn kid, why couldn't you have gone someplace else."
Beth Ann smiled at Ken. "There's a small table over there." Beth Ann pointed to a table near Joe and Sal. Ken got up and followed her, then tripped slightly and bumped into Beth Ann, causing her to spill some tea on him.
"Oh, I'm sorry; I'm a bit of a klutz," Ken apologized.
"It's all right, honey, after all, you got the tea on you."
"I'll go to the men's room and then I'll be back to the table," Ken said, wiping at his shirt with a napkin. He smiled at Beth Ann, who was watching with amusement. "I'll put your tea down at the table," she called to him, and thought 'What a doll. He can be a klutz all he wants around me.'
"Beth Ann, are you ogling customers again?" Huggy called teasingly.
He smirked as Beth Ann came up to the bar. "Just that blond kid. He's a real looker."
"He's too young for you." Huggy teased.
As she turned to Huggy, Joe used the straw to stir the sedative in the tea. Relieved not to be caught, he said to Sal. "Okay. Now what will you do?"
Sal said as he sat back down. "I made a phone call to a couple of our friends. In about ten minutes, there will a disturbance by Bill and Ted. We'll take the kid out the back." He smirked in anticipation.
Ken, unaware of the danger sitting near him, sipped his tea slowly as he ate the cheeseburger and fries Beth Ann brought with another smile. "Mmmm," he murmured. "This is good, the best hamburger I've had. I'll come here often." Ken drank the tea and Beth Ann, who watched him as much as she could, brought more.
Ken pulled out his wallet and gave her the money for the food, plus a sizeable tip.
"Hope I see you again soon, sweetie."
Ken smiled, put up his wallet and started to stand. He felt dizzy and sat back down. 'I guess I'm more tired than I thought. I'll just rest a moment and try again'. He put his elbows on the table and rested his head between his hands.
Two men that had been seated nearer the front door began a loud argument, along with shoving and pushing. One was pushed into Beth Ann, who dropped her tray, causing sounds of breaking glass, as she stumbled backwards, trying to regain her balance.
Huggy saw the scuffle and came out to steady Beth Ann and break up the fight. "All right, you two chumps, take it somewhere else."
The two men turned to Huggy, arguing furiously that it was none of his business. The rest of the customers were watching the commotion except for Ken, who had fallen asleep, and Joe and Sal. Seeing everyone else occupied, both grabbed Ken and took him out the back way, quickly placing him in the back of the car and taking off.
The two men fighting stopped after Huggy's threat to call the police and both pulled their wallets, giving the money to Huggy. "This should take care of damages." Ted said curtly.
"This ain't over yet, Fatso!" Bill stated.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm soooo scared, Brainless."
"You still owe me for that bet . . ." and the two went out the front door.
"Whew!" Huggy exclaimed. "What a mess!" He took the money from Beth Ann. "I'm glad those bozos gave generously. Help me clean up, Beth Ann. Put the closed sign out; the lunch rush is over. Hope everyone liked what they got."
While Joe drove, as if he had heard Huggy's question, Sal said as he leered at the kid in the back seat, "Well that was the best lunch ever."
"I didn't get my apple pie for dessert," Joe grumbled.
"Well, I got the best dessert of all. Go to the motel on 5th and you can leave me and get all the dessert you want." Sal laughed.
TBC