The road twist and split, diverging into a thousand asphalt paths that scaled mountains and ran along streams. Abe rolled with the hills, taking whatever turn caught his fancy in the moment. Small roads fed to big highways, which branched to small roads once again. The sun had just begun its lazy fall to the horizon when Abe felt his stomach growl. He picked a road and stayed with it. That road fell down the mountain in a never-ending series of switchbacks. Abe cut the car back and forth as he stole glances at the dizzying drops that awaited him just beyond the blacktop’s edge. He was terrified and exhilarated, letting the car go to the very limit of what he could control before tapping the brakes. The mountains soared and closed in on either side of him as he pushed forward, knuckles so tight on the wheel that they looked like a row of white elephants marching along.
When at long last he reached the bottom and his heart slowed its drumming, his stomach growled again. He had been too nervous to eat much lunch and now hunger was catching up to him. A few more miles passed under the old car’s tires when a sign appeared by the road proclaiming food and beer to the left. The sign perched in front of a dusty gravel lot and Abe whipped in without hesitation. The lot was empty except for a shining new SUV and a rusted pickup nearly as old as Abe’s car. He parked by the other two cars near the old brick building and got out. New paint around the windows and a sprawling front deck went a long way towards sprucing up what had once been a store of some kind. Armed with his cane and a gnawing appetite, Abe scaled the front steps and muscled open the stubborn metal door to enter the building.
Inside the single open room was cool and dark compared to the sun-soaked world he just left. At a round table in the middle, a young couple in nice clothes sat wrapped in pleasant conversation with a row of little glasses in front of them. Each glass held a different colored liquid which the pair seemed in no hurry to drink. A bar made of shipping pallets arched out from the back wall in a shallow U. Behind the bar stood a solitary young man whose face was lit by the glow of his phone. In truth, none of the people were young, all closer to middle age, but these days Abe thought of everyone under seventy as a kid. With the speed of a groggy snail, Abe made his way to the bar. As he approached, the man locked his phone and set it down.
“Good afternoon.” The man said with a tight smile, “What can I get for ya” As he negotiated a high stool, Abe could see that the fellow’s right eye was glass and that a crooked scar traced backward to the mangled remnants of an ear.
“I would absolutely love a beer.” Abe said catching his breath after the trek in and climb onto the bar stool.
“Well you found the right spot,” Said the bartender, “this is a brewery, all our beers are made right here in the back.”
“This? This little old place is a brewery?”
“It sure is. We have been open for a few years now. Also, make some food, doesn’t usually get busy till later in the year when it warms up. My name is Jake.” The man paused and stuck out his hand which was a good deal stronger and rougher than Abe was expecting when he shook it,
“Abe.” Abe replied
“Nice to meet you Abe.” Jake continued in a warm but not too cheery tone. He slid a narrow paper menu over for Abe to look at and started talking about a couple of the beers. “We just finished this double IPA yesterday. Has hints of mango and pineapple and a wonderful hoppiness. Oh, and this chocolate coffee stout is really something. It’s perfect on cold days but I like it anytime. Or if you want I can do a flight so you can try several of them. What are you thinking?”
“Well I’m not sure,” Abe said hesitantly, “I’m sorry but it has been a long time since I had a beer and apparently things have changed quite a bit.”
“Oh that’s no problem. What was your favorite beer during the best time of your life? That usually helps people decide”
“Honestly, it was the one in my hand. I always felt like it was the people and the setting that made the beer taste good. I tell you what, I’ll let you pick. You seem trustworthy to me.”
“Alright.” Jake chuckled and took a pint glass over to the row of taps. Abe didn’t blink as the golden liquid flowed and made its way back to him. Jake set it down and Abe picked it up, loving the weight in his hand. He took a healthy gulp, not sipping or sampling but committing wholeheartedly.
“Now that my friend, is a beer.” Abe said with satisfaction and authority. “Clean and crisp and real. Not hiding behind anything fancy.”
“There’s nothing better than simple done right.” Jake replied, “Can I get you something to eat or are you sticking to liquid bread today?”
“I would love a burger, with bacon and cheese if I can, and a mountain of fries. And no lettuce, tomato, onions, or anything like that. I’m in the mood for meat today”
“I knew I liked you the minute you walked through the door.” Jake half grinned and walked into the back to let the cook know the order. On returning he asked,
“So, you off on a road trip someplace exciting?”
“Oh, uh nowhere in particular.” Abe stammered and endeavored to play cool, “Just out riding for the weekend. Roaming about and seeing what adventures find me.”
“My kind of man, and I love your ride.” Jake nodded out the front window
“Thanks, I got that the day my oldest daughter was born. I guess it was one last wild thing before life pinned me down.” Abe sipped his beer and the two talked. Jake spoke in a light-hearted but matter of fact baritone, a voice altogether at odds with the soft, pandering speech Abe usually got from nurses and family members. Abe relaxed into the conversation, reveling in being spoken to like an adult once again.
“You get those on a wild night in college?” Jake asked indicating the faded green shapes of ancient tattoos that peeked out from under Abe’s jacket at the wrist and neck.
“No no, no college for me. I dropped out at sixteen to see the world. Like a great man once said, ‘I left school because it was getting in the way of my education.’ I talked my way into a job on a cargo ship and headed across the ocean.”
“Wow, that is something, I respect that. Most only dream of taking a step that big and life-changing.”
“Most people think I was crazy, and brave. The truth is I was terrified, but God how I did love the sea. The ever moving, ever-changing world. A thousand busy ports and a thousand empty lands just waiting to be discovered. I’ve never worked harder in my life than when I was on the sea, or shared time with better men.” Abe grew quiet and stared down at the bar, spinning the pint glass idly in his hands. Jake didn’t utter a word, but stayed close and waited patiently while Abe took the time he needed.
“We were in the Straits of Florida only miles north of Havana. I had lost most of my money at cards that afternoon and was too angry to sleep. My friends all turned in, so I wandered up on deck the get some air and enjoy a smoke in peace. I nearly made it to the hatch when the whole world went mad. Violence and noise out of nowhere. I was thrown about and bounced all over before landing in a crumpled heap on the steel. We were already listing heavily to starboard as I pushed myself up off the deck. The way behind me was filling with water and I could hear muffled shouting below. I turned to go back for my friends, but in a moment the sound was snuffed out and the rising water surged. Don’t exactly remember getting out to the rail and jumping but I must have. The sea was as warm as a bath that night, and I struggled to the surface just in time to see the stern go under, backlit by the distant lights of old Havana. Six of us made it out. Mostly the few on the bridge, we yelled and swam trying to get together. As we got closer I notice a shadow rise from the sea, one by one blotting out the city lights. I got quiet and thankfully the others did too. It paused among the scattered debris long enough for a man to emerge from the top and scan the scene. Then, with calm detachment, he took his hat off, ran his fingers through his hair, and vanished back below. The U-Boat motored on west before fading into the night.”
“The explosion was seen in town and boats raced out to get us and search for the sub. A boisterous man in a sport fishing boat pulled me out of the water. He was full of fire about destroying the U-Boat, but all I could think of was the sound of the yelling below and the even look on that german’s face.” Abe picked up his beer to have a drink but put it back down before it reached his lips
“Those were my best friends, that was my home on the see. All gone in a heartbeat.” He paused for a long tired breath, “I made more friends, even had a family, but I don’t know. Nothing has ever replaced the guys swallowed by the waves that night. Sorry, I know you are probably bored with listening to an old man ramble about the past”
“New friends and family, are great,” Jake responded leaning forward and putting both hands on the bar. “After I got back from overseas they saved me from my freefall, put me to work here making beer and helped me move forward, but, there is nothing quite the same as the people you served and adventured with when you were young.”
“You spend time in uniform?” Abe managed to ask through the fog of his own memories.
“I didn’t serve in the military. No, I studied to be a nurse in college and after I graduated I volunteered to become an aid worker. I was young and zealous and so sure that I could change the world. Wherever people needed help the most, that was the place I headed for. Traveled all over, but never felt like I was doing enough. That if I only pushed harder I could make a difference.”
“That’s how I wound up in the desert. Five friends and I snuck into a village we were told wasn’t safe, but we couldn’t have cared less. Those people needed medical help so we went. Evil came for us in the night as well, and let me tell you, good intentions and a positive attitude don’t stop bullets. Everything was quiet and fine, until it wasn’t. Gunshots erupted and explosions filled the air. Fire, spread by the wind, and the hands of angry men, engulfed everything in sight. I tried to keep my wits about me, tried to help others escape but in a moment I was down.” His fingers moved up his cheek and traced the scar as he continued. “There is no telling how long I was out. When I came to I was under a pile of bodies, unable to move and barely alive. After hours in that tomb, help came and pulled me out. Only an old lady and I survived.” He paused and pressed his lips tightly together, fighting down tears with deep breaths before going on. “They had come for the medical supplies, the ones we brought.” Jake stopped talking and looked at Abe, who looked right back. Neither spoke for a minute but found some comfort from the other who truly understood.
Jake bobbed his head slightly before turning away. Abe watched in somber reflection as Jake opened a cabinet on the back wall and reached high up onto the top shelf. His hand disappeared into the musty gloom before emerging once more holding a dark bottle. Its label sat proudly on the squat black glass, though time had dulled the red and gold lettering. Beautifully printed words in a language Abe did not know. Jack plucked three shot glasses from behind the bar, then set one in front of Abe, the second in front of himself, and the last between them but off to one side.
“I don’t sell this,” He said in a low voice while pouring the mahogany rum with reverence, “It’s not for everyone. A gift from a, friend, in Haiti, in the heyday of another life.” Jake lifted his glass and Abe followed suit. The third glass remained still and untouched, alone before the spot next to Abe. Moisture pooled in Jake’s eyes again, and his hand trembled slightly,
“For those who are gone, but will never leave us.” And with that, he raised the shot, then took it down.
Abe also lifted and tossed back his shot. Not quickly like an overzealous college freshman, but in a steady, smooth pour. He focused, savoring the rich, dark flavors of another world that filled his mouth. He saw a gathering of faces as the fire spilled down his throat and spread through his body. Each one came into focus then faded away as the rum settled. Both men sat in the silence of their own thoughts until Jake let out a deep breath and wrapped his knuckles against the bar.
“Let me go check on that burger.” he said replacing the bottle in its lonesome home before heading back into the kitchen. Abe looked over at the last shot but left it on the bar, waiting.
Jake bust out of the kitchen, with the smell of fried potatoes and meat following close behind.
“Here you go,” Jake said brightly as he deposited a battered metal plate in front of Abe, “One bacon cheeseburger with no frilly vegetables and a mountain for fries.” Abe grinned from ear to ear, picked up the burger with both hands, and attacked. It was almost more than he could bear. Made with no consideration at all for his health or saving money. With each chew, his mouth forgot years of blandness and came alive once more. He took a second bite, and a third before noticing the fries. Maintaining a death grip on the burger with one hand, Abe snatched up a half dozen fries and shoved them unceremoniously in his mouth. He groaned with pleasure and pushed on eating. Devouring so much salt and fat that he could practically hear his arteries slamming shut, but he loved every minute of it.
Abe was struck mid-bite by a realization and put down his burger for the first time since picking it up. In all the excitement he had forgotten to take his pills. He dug into his left jacket pocket, fishing around until each pill for the day was in his hand. With care so as not to send them scattering, he deposited the multi-colored lumps on the bar. Each one had been hoarded over the past few weeks. Abe knew that he had enough for two days, one day in each jacket pocket, but for the life of him, he could not remember when to take them or with what. So, he had chosen to take them all at once and that would simply have to due. He picked up the first two at random and chased them down with a sip of beer. During the second group, he noticed the sideways look he was getting from Jake.
“Are you supposed to take those with alcohol?” Jake asked with more than a bit of surprise and concern.
“Probably not,” Abe shrugged as he finished the last of the pills. “But at this point, I don’t even care.” He let out a reverberating burp that seemed to come from all the way down in his toes and pounced on the burger once more. Jake shook his head and chuckled, then wandered off towards the other end of the bar the get ready for the evening crowd.
In no time, the burger had been all but destroyed and the fries wiped out, leaving only a ragged crescent of meat and bun on the plate. Abe lifted his glass to have another swallow of beer and contemplated ordering second when out of nowhere, the room was filled with screeching alarms. He jumped and nearly spilled his remaining drink down his shirt. Confused and un-nerved, he looked down at Jake’s phone buzzing its way across the bar. The screen flashed a pulsing red message while continuing to sound. More noise came from behind and Abe twisted to see that both the man and woman’s phones were going off as well. With hardly a glance at the screen, they picked up their phones and silenced them. Then continued on with their conversation as if nothing had happened. Jack came back over to see what was causing all the commotion. As Abe set his beer down Jake picked up his phone. He turned off the alarm and read the message, his eyes tightened and the skin on his forehead wrinkled as he did so. Abe’s mouth went dry and his heart sank.
“What is that?” he croaked out in a meek voice. Jake’s eyes didn’t leave the screen as he spoke.
“It’s an emergency alert. Apparently, an elderly man escaped his nursing home, stole a car, and is now missing. A car just like yous. It says he might be confused and to call if you have any information.” Jake looked up and locked eyes with Abe. Without so much as a blink, and only quick glances down, he typed on the phone’s screen with his thumb and brought it up to his ear. Abe slumped on the bar stool, taking his hand off the pint glass and letting it fall to his lap. He saw the last couple of bites of burger on his plate but has no desire to eat them.
“Yes, I have information about the missing person in the alert just now.” Jake said then listened for a moment while the person on the other end spoke, “Yep I’m looking at him right now. Both he and the car match the description perfectly.” another pause, “I’m driving on highway forty going west through Cedar Mountain Gap.”
Abe looked up at Jake puzzled, a question about to slip out, but Jake put one finger to his lips and Abe kept quiet.
“Of course, happy to help.” He said, his voice unwavering, “He is driving pretty erratically, you better come quick.” Jake put down the phone and smiled at Abe. “Cedar Mountain Gap is a couple hours away from here. That should buy you some time, but you had better finish your beer and get going.” Abe picked up his glass and chugged down the last of the beer in three rapid gulps. He concentrated on the bold flavor and wondered if he would ever taste such a thing again. Standing up he dug a twenty out of his pocket and tossed it on the bar. Then he stuck out his hand and Jake took it in a firm grip. Abe squeezed back, doing his best to match the young man’s strength. A low,
“Thank you,” was all Abe could come up with and he gave a short nod to Jake as he did so. Jake returned the nod and released his grip. Abe turned and walked in his slow shuffle to the front door. As he pulled it open, Jake spoke up one last time,
“I know you said that you didn’t have any real plans, were just wondering around and all, but if you would like to see the ocean again take a right out of here and a left at the second light. It’s not the fastest route, but it is quiet and will have you standing in saltwater this time tomorrow.” Abe smiled and waved, then stepped through the door. He arrived at his car with no recollection of having gotten there. As he walked across the parking lot his mind had run a slideshow of memories. The sea called, from the past as much as over the horizon, and Abe swelled with purpose as he eased into the driver’s seat. Orange light blazed across the clouds to the west, which hung like frozen flames above the dark mountains. It would be dinner time for most people soon and Abe knew he had to find a place to pass the night.
Just One Quick Story 