I met Ned at a local bar. I had never been there, had driven past it a thousand times, but never thought twice about it. Now, as I entered, I realized I had been missing out. Inside was a small eating area with a wall that separated it from the more rowdy bar crowd. The bar was decorated with old pictures of the town and even older pictures of the family who ran the place. Ned was at the bar. He stood and headed toward me, beer in hand.
“You didn’t have to get up,” I said. “I’m cool sitting at the bar.”
“Yeah, but I’m hungry. The lady who runs the place don’t allow food over there. She also don’t allow swearing, so watch your tongue. You get caught swearing in here, you’re out.” Ned motioned with his head to a sign hanging just above the bar entrance that proclaimed the law of the land.
