Finding Her Inner Wolf

Celebration

     During my shift at the bar I was in a pretty excellent mood.  One of my favorite older patrons came in before it really started picking up.  We had a great chat.  He kept quizzically staring at me.  Finally I had to startle him into reality.

     "Grant you're looking a bit too concentrated right now.  What's up?" I chuckle.

     "You just remind me of a bartender we had probably almost 20 years ago.  You look almost like her." He stammered.

     This is it. What I've been looking for, clues somewhere to start.

     "Really, maybe we should find her and have a side by side comparison" I joke.

     "That wouldn't work even if you wanted it too.  Back then there was a huge mess and she had to leave town in a rush, not that I blame her."

"Wow, what happened?" questioning dumbly, acting like I don't already know.

"It was something terrible, nothing to worry your pretty little head about." He brushes it off.

Well that didn't get me very far. At least I know people remember who she was. I want to push him to get more information, but I can normally read people really well. He seems the type that he wouldn't say much more about the subject. I walk to the other end of the bar, grab a couple beers for a couple sitting in a booth in the corner. It's been pretty quiet today as usual, but outside is really starting to get busy. Seeing some of those classic cars driving up and down Main Street, it's really a beautiful sight to see. I'm really looking forward to the car show. You're actually able to get up close and personal with these beauties and ask the owners questions. All while enjoying the several different foods and lots of music.

"Excuse me, could I get a light beer?" An older female voice calls from a table waiving her arm.

"Coming right up ma'am." I call. Walking over to the cooler and grabbing a beer, then pop the cap off. I walk over to the older looking woman and set the beer down and smile at her. "Here you go. Are you in town for the car show?" making small talk.

"Yes of course. My husband and I come to town every year with our 1969 Nova. It's his pride and joy out of his collection." She starts looking at me a bit confused, before asking me "Dear you wouldn't happen to be related to that Paige woman that lived here in town quite a few years ago? You look so much like her, for sure."

I'm caught off guard but this is it, I hope. "Actually I am. I've been looking for her and whatever family I have left. Noone seems to know where I should go. So I decided that the last place anyone knew for sure where she was, was here in Valentine." Lord that feels so good to get out loud instead of my head.

"I thought so. I'm so sorry, how long have you been looking?" she questions.

"About 10 years at least." I sigh.

"Well I wish you luck on finding them. Last time I had talked to her before everything went crazy she had said she had so friends on the Iowa/Nebraska border. But that's all I know." she says apologetically.

     "Really, that's actually quite helpful. I've been here for about 3 months but haven't gotten much information. I know my grandfather took my brothers while I was left in foster care, and I have no idea where my dad was during all the craziness." I almost say in one sentence running out of breath near the end of it.

     She looked at me in almost surprise "I really hope you find what you're looking for dear.  Oh her landlord was Sherry James if she's still around she would be one to talk to"

     "Oh thank you! I hadn't thought of that yet." I excitedly jump.

     She smiles sweetly and I head back to the bar.  Today was definitely starting to prove lucrative.  But receiving this information also meant my time here was almost done.  I would be moving on to my next destination wherever my clues/bread crumbs led. 

     I would be sad to leave Xandra behind but I needed to find my answers and they weren't around here.  I would miss her.  The rest of my shift was pretty uneventful except Andrew the full of himself millimeter Peter asshole.  He's one that can be told no, f**k off, kiss my ass, every form of no known and he still doesn't get the hint.

     Andrew is about 6 foot, sandy hair, almost a beiber look going on.  Green eyes that looked muddied.  He wanted in the pants of just about anything that moved, very full of himself.  He was a follower never a leader.  He worked at the body shop and always had that aura of gas and exhaust.  Which on almost anyone else would be heavenly.

     "Hey Shay Shay how bout that sweet ass brings me my stiff one?" His skeezy smile makes me cringe.  Followed by him being cheered by his pitiful excuse of friends.

     "Hey dickless you would have to have something there to have a stiff one!" I sneer.

     The whole bar erupted in laughter minus dickless wonder Andrew.  That was my celebratory victory for the day.  His face, the sheer devastation and embarrassment trumped even the great information I got.  Andrew was so pissed that he jumped up dumping the pitcher of beer at his table entirely on his own lap.

     He now smelled as if he marinated in beer and looked as if he's piss ass drunk, literally.  He stormed out of the bar, but as I'm sure he felt it wasnt fast enough.  It was almost 5, what a way to end the shift.  I'm short of breath and beat red.  As I turn around I see Greg giving me one of his disapproving looks.  I felt like a child in trouble about to be punished.

     I instantly downward awaiting to be backhanded.  Instead I'm met with a very deep guttural laugh.  He was laughing just as hard if not harder than anyone else had.  My body relaxed and I smiled.

     "So how much did you see and hear?" I snicker

     "Well good morning!  Every bit of it. Funniest damn thing I've heard in awhile, and seen." Greg half spoke half chuckled. "So how has the day gone?" Quickly changing subjects.

     Eventhough it was 5 in the afternoon he says hes up all night so afternoon is his morning.  Greg really is a sweet guy, but dont get me wrong he's a true hard ass when necessary and can make your life a living hell if you cross onto the wrong side with him.

     "Pretty silent, up until Andrew and crew came in." I said with as straight of a face I could force quickly as possible.

     "Well get out of here for the day and enjoy that car show" he said as if it were an order.

     "Will do greg, oh and good morning to you as well." Saying with a wave and ducking out of the bar.  Time to enjoy the evening with Xandra and check out some incredible cars.  Thus was going to be the best night ever!