Klempner - Twenty-Six Years Ago
The bar is still dressed for Christmas, but at the far side of the room a girl is taking down green and red foil decorations from a tree while a man in blue overalls reaches from the top of a ladder with a screwdriver, fiddling in an electric box, looking back as coloured lights flicker on then off again.
Behind the bar, Angelo is doing his ‘forever work’ of polishing glasses…
“What’ll it be, Larry?” He reaches towards the bottles…
“Just a coffee. It’s a bit early.”
“Coming up.”
To the hiss of steam from the kitchenette, Frank arrives, briefcase in hand.
“Hi, Larry. Happy New Year.” He glances at his wrist. “Not late am I?”
“Not at all. I just arrived myself.”
As we seat ourselves, Angelo arrives with my coffee. “What are you having, Frank?”
“I’ll
