Copacabana 2007

The Cabana was packed. A dozen patrons were belly up to the bar, some were playing pool, foosball, or darts, most were sitting at the various tables chatting and drinking their troubles away. It was Friday night and the alcohol was flowing freely.

Laura and her friends, all regulars at The Cabana, arrived to shouts and whistles. Never ones to be understated, Laura and crew were well dressed and ready to party. Ashley, Niki, and Sara went to say hi to various friends and acquaintances while Laura made a beeline for the bar.

“Hey, Laura! The usual?” the tall male bartender asked. He already began mixing the ingredients for Laura’s favorite shot and lined four shot glasses on the bar in front of her for her and her friends. “Have a good week, babe?”

Laura made eye contact with her friends and motioned them over. “Hellacious. These had better be potent, Tommy. I drink to forget.”

Tommy laughed. “This isn’t the Hotel California, babe. But you’ll definitely need a DD after a few of these. I hope you planned accordingly.”

Laura and her friends did a quick toast and downed their shots. After ordering a pitcher of their usual beer, Laura leaned casually on the bar and waved a five-dollar bill in front of Tommy.

“Only if you say the magic phrase,” Tommy teased, knowing exactly what Laura wanted.

“Tommy is the best bartender ever,” Laura said in a singsong voice, smiling flirtatiously. It was the same game they played every week and each one knew the other enjoyed it.

“That’s my girl!” Tommy said, handing her five dollars in quarters. “Now go show me what you got!”

Laura went over to the table her friends had chosen and plopped down her pile of quarters. Sara took a few and went over to the jukebox while Ashley took one to reserve the pool table for the next game.

“So are you two ever going to hook up again?” Niki asked Laura, filling glasses.

Laura looked over her shoulder. Tommy was busy mixing drinks. “I don’t know,” she replied coyly. “I wouldn’t mind having another romp with Tommy. He’s smart, sexy, knows what he’s doing.” She smiled.

“Sounds like Laura’s getting attached,” Ashley said as if Laura wasn’t there.

“Well can you blame me?” Laura said. The friends giggled.

Sara jumped up as the first song she selected began to play. “C’mon, ladies! Let’s get this party started!”

The girls gravitated to the small section of the room designated as a dance floor. Tommy, recognizing the song choice, looked instantly toward the dance area. He shook his head, his eyes following Laura’s every move.

“She’s back,” another bartender said to Tommy, playfully elbowing his ribs.

“Oh yeah,” Tommy said, his eyes never leaving Laura.

“Gonna ask her out again?” the other bartender asked.

Tommy was silent, unsure of the answer. By last call, he still had no idea of what it would be. As the last of the patrons left The Cabana, he noticed Laura and her friends gather their things to leave.

“Have you ladies called a cab yet?” Tommy asked, coming over to clean up their table personally.

“I just called,” Ashley replied, her voice sounding fuzzy.

“Good to hear,” Tommy said. He leaned in close to Laura. “I was willing to drop you off if you didn’t,” he whispered, and winked before returning to the bar.

***

The following week Laura and her entourage entered The Cabana in grand style. After securing drinks and quarters, Ashley attacked the jukebox while Sara set up a game of pool.

“Tommy,” a female bartender said, drying a glass, “would you ask her out already?” It was very obvious to everyone that worked at The Cabana that Tommy liked Laura and was hesitating about starting a real relationship.

Tommy lazily wiped down the bar as he watched Laura lean over the pool table to take her shot. “I will,” he said almost to himself.

“You’d better be quick about it. Looks like you might have competition.” Tommy’s co-worker gestured to a guy sitting at the end of the bar who was avidly watching Laura’s every move.

“Haven’t seen you in here before,” Tommy said to the stranger as he kept an eye on Laura. “What’s your name?”

The guy took a sip of his drink before replying. “Rick. Rick Diamond.”

“Tommy Mills.” The guys shook hands.

“Who’s the sexy pool girl?” Rick asked, not taking his eyes off Laura.

“Her name is Laura. She’s a regular. In here with her girlfriends every Friday,” Tommy replied, suddenly feeling protective of his favorite customer.

“Tommy! I need you!” a co-worker called from a back room. Tommy excused himself, leaving Rick to resume ogling Laura.

When the pool game was over, Laura brought the empty beer pitcher back to the bar to be refilled.

“Great game,” Rick said, flashing Laura a winning smile.

Laura smiled back. “Thanks!”

“I’m Rick.”

"Laura."

Rick scooted closer to Laura. “This is on me,” he said almost in her ear, placing his hand on the pitcher.

“Thanks, but it’s on my tab,” Laura said, trying to back away.

“Then let me pay for this one,” Rick insisted, brushing loose hair away from Laura’s face.

“I have it,” Laura said, irritation creeping in her voice.

At the other end of the bar, Tommy noticed Laura’s disgust with Rick.

“Babe, is this guy bothering you?” Tommy asked, glaring at Rick while he refilled Laura’s pitcher.

“Just trying to be nice,” Rick sneered.

“I’ve got her taken care of,” Tommy said, brushing Rick’s arm aside so he could have the pitcher.

“Don’t touch me!” Rick snapped.

“Easy, pal. I’m not trying to start something,” Tommy said, handing the pitcher back to Laura.

“You need to mind your own business. Me and the girl were just getting acquainted.”

“Go sit down, Laura. I’ll be right with you,” Tommy instructed, his eyes narrowing on Rick. When he was sure Laura was safe, Tommy turned back to Rick. "I think it's time you’re cut off.”

“I’m not drunk.”

“You’re making one of my customers uncomfortable.”

“She wasn’t bothered by me,” Rick said, getting to his feet as if to go after Laura.

“Rule One in my bar: don’t piss off the bartender. I think it’s time for you to go,” Tommy said. He made a move to go around the bar to escort Rick to the door. Before he could round the corner, Rick lunged and started swinging. Both men fell into nearby tables, breaking one and toppling others. Several patrons attempted to break the pair apart unsuccessfully.

Suddenly, a loud shot rang through the bar and everything went quiet, except for the sound of the jukebox and Laura’s scream.

***

The Cabana just wasn’t the same. Sara, Niki, and Ashley all pursued their own interests, leaving Laura to her own devices. In the month since the shooting, Laura kept up her ritual Friday visits to their bar by herself. She tried to convince them to go, but none of them wanted to go back after the tragedy.

“It doesn’t feel right,” was Ashley’s reason.

“They have bouncers now. It’s lost its hometown feel,” Sara chimed in.

“It’s not the same without Tommy,” said Niki.

Belly up to the bar, Laura secretly agreed. She no longer felt like pool or dancing. She drank until last call.

“Hun, you gotta get out of this mourning,” one of the regular bartenders said to Laura one night.

“I know. But I feel close to him here.”

The bartender gently patted Laura’s hand and went to look after a new couple that had just come up to the bar. When she returned she said, “Go easy on the sauce, huh? I don’t want you to turn into that Barry Manilow song.”

Just then, as if on cue, the song the new couple had selected began to play.

“Her name was Lola. She was a showgirl...”

“Oh man,” Laura sighed, staring into her almost empty glass. She drained the glass and motioned for her favorite shot. Laura always started and ended the night with her favorite shot, toasting the memory of Tommy. When she finished her ritual, she turned the shot glass upside down on the bar and wiped her mouth.

The bartender looked at the clock. “Hun, it’s early. What’s wrong?”

Laura stood up and opened her purse to pay her tab. “You’re right,” she said as Barry Manilow crooned in the background. “I am in mourning. Tommy wouldn’t want me like this. I’m calling it a night before I turn into that Lola chick.”

For the first time since Tommy died, Laura smiled.