Nobody's Place: Finding Joy

         It was another night at Nobody's Place. Tom had looked in almost every bar in the city. Enough was enough, so he decided to go home. It had been two weeks since Joy had last been a part of his life. He thought he had found Joy in a couple of clubs earlier but was mistaken.

         Home was Nobody's Place, the best bar in the city. Obviously Tom didn't really live there, but it felt more like home than his apartment as he usually spent almost as much time in it. When he went inside he saw some regulars playing foosball and heard Jimmy Buffett's "Why Don't We Get Drunk And Screw" playing on the Jukebox. Of course, there was the usual crowd of college students as well.

         "Beer and a shot, Joe," he ordered while taking a spot at the bar.

         Joe brought him a Heineken and a shot. The shot was downed quickly. It was Johnnie Walker scotch, black label. Joe treats his regular customers well and knows everything there is to know about the bar world. That's why his bar is so popular.

         "Are you still looking for Joy?" he asked.

         Tom heard sarcasm in his voice. That was so unlike Joe. Before he could reply, a familiar sound behind him, froze his thoughts. Nobody laughed like Joy but Tom thought his distraught mind was playing tricks on him. He swiveled slowly on the bar stool.

         "Joy!" He couldn't believe it. "Joy, I've been looking all over the city for you." He lost all his rehearsed words. "Are you ready to come home yet?" he pleaded.

         She stifled her breathtaking laughter and answered through her endearing smile in her, oh, so sultry voice. Tom had missed all of that very much.

         "Actually, Tom, I've been looking for you. If you had been patient and waited like I asked, I probably would have been home already."

         "Joy, I waited two weeks before I looked. I...I'm sorry. Please come home."

         "Tom, do you remember why I left?"

         He thought the question rhetorical but felt in his pocket for the ring. "Of course I do. You were afraid to accept my proposal because it might change things and you were afraid to decline because you thought I might leave if you did. But it doesn't matter. I'll take you any way I can; with or without the ring." Tom knew how desperate he sounded but
couldn't keep it in. "Please, just come home."

         "That depends," she said. "Are you taking back that ridiculous question or do you insist on this foolishness?"

         "I can't take it back, Joy. I can stay with you, without being married, but I can't just make the feelings or desires disappear."

         She turned towards the bar. "Hey, Joe! Two shots, please." She turned back to Tom with a wicked smile on her face and just met his eyes. "You're sure," she asked.

         "Absolutely," he replied, his tone imploring.

         She downed her shot and waited for Tom to do the same. It was startling to discover champagne in his shot glass. Before he could ask about it Joy turned her back to him and shouted out for the whole bar to hear.

         "Hey, everyone! Tom and I are setting a date. Who's coming to the wedding?"

         Cheers filled the bar drowning out "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang which was playing on the jukebox. She turned back toward Tom laughing. As he looked into her mischievous green eyes, and heard the cheers, Tom knew he had found joy for life.

         Joe opened their own celebration along with a few bottles of champagne for everyone. He leaned against the bar, casually sipping his beer. After all, it was just another night at Nobody's Place.