Closing Time

by Bennó Bártfai

It was almost closing time. I was sitting in a dark corner of the bar; my ale was shining with a gold-ish tone in the dim lamplight. Besides me there was only one guy sitting at a table in the far corner; he was wearing lousy clothes, shaggy beard, long hair and a baseball cap. This hobo, as I guessed, was constantly staring out of the window, as if he was waiting for somebody, or was very afraid of somebody finding him. I was about to leave to the lavatory when the door dashed open and another guy in a light brown trench coat rushed to the hobo’s table and took a seat.

“What’s up, Benny? Long time no see,” said the newcomer. He was basically a handsome guy in his late 30’s, with short blonde hair and an unshaven face, but the signs of heavy drinking and smoking were visible on him. The “hobo” tried to escape, but the other man grabbed him by his shirt and pushed him back to the seat.

“Hhhhhello, John”, stuttered Benny sheepishly, “well, you know, I’m just moving through, thought about having a rest and drinking a pint before work.”

“I don’t believe you, Benny. You were always a liar, just like all of your kind. Some of you just do it better than the others. And you belong to the bottom of the others.”

“No, John, I swear, the boss sent me to collect some debts for him. Don’t be mad, the job is not here, but in Chinatown.” I could see the sheer terror on the face of the hobo as he was pressing himself into the mattress of the seat anxiously. I was glad that the darkness hid me completely, but I could see the two men clearly from this angle.

“Of course the boss sent you; you bastard, do you think that I am such an ass?” the man called John raised his voice. “I made a pact with old Lou himself, that none of your kind will set his foot in this district for ten years, and pacts are sacred for him. Heh, sacred, maybe not the best choice of words.” He was speaking in a strong Scouse accent, and let out a loud laugh at the end of his last sentence. “You escaped behind his back, didn’t you? Thinking about making some deals on your own, fooling some poor fools?”

“No, no, no, John, believe me. You know me, I’ve helped you in many cases with precious information. Please, don’t send me back, I just wanted to get away for a few days, you know how boring and dull everything is there down under,” begged the one called Benny.

“Sorry, Benny, you are just another crook who would deceive his own mother if he saw the opportunity. And this district is under my protection; I don’t tolerate your kind here ever again.” He’s voice was calm now, but filled with disgust.

This was the time when nature’s call was so strong that I had to go to the toilet. The two men luckily were too busy with their argument, so they didn’t notice me. I was just ready with washing my hands when I heard Benny shout. “Damn you, John, you son of a bitch! One day you will follow me, and then every day will be a living nightmare for you! Rot alive, ass…” and then silence.

When I went back to my shady table I only saw the door of the pub closing, and where the two men were sitting minutes before there was only a pile of ash. I didn’t understand what I saw and heard in the previous minutes, and also, where was that sulfuric stink coming from?

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