Bartender Tales Poem by Val Brooklyn Rogers

I'm Kerris Hakim, bartender trade by night. Here at Fahrenheit Lounge I have heard stories of patrons who dared to live and lovers who Suddenly died. Graduating from law school without a dime.
Over gin and tonic I've listened to all arrays of ironic. Husbands who
Didn't know their husbands had wives. Then husbands who didn't know their wives were alive. All these stories and...

Just one more for the road, Jack Daniels please. Don't tell me I'm to drunk to drive. You can't force me to stay alive. Give me my keys now
Please. 'You need a cab Mr Wallace' Kerris asserted.

Ounces and ounces hard liquor STRAIGHT no chaser. That was Mike Baker.
'May be a BLACK RUSSIAN? ' Kerris attempted to introduce something with less potency. 'Come on Hakim you know me by now. I like hard Vodka
It's my weakness. No chaser. I've been a regular 7 years now and my
Kidneys take me to the can.7 years.'
'Here's your vodka on the Rocks straight, no chaser.'Kerris said.
Mike Lifted the glass smiled and took a swallow.

There are others and other lovers of those who stop in just to sort
Out their day.
One day Ferdinand Cools stationed himself on a bar stool at the far end of the bar opposite the door. As he watched every soul exit and enter
He proceeded to tell me what he thought my PROBLEMS were.
He didn't think I was competent enough to obtain more secure employment.
Reason being is that I'm inept at simply completing an employment application. I laughed a lot. He was mostly sober. Just filling up on light beers.

I've had to shoulder plenty with this PLACE. Huge brawls some really
Big ones lasting all night. I swear to all, one night the SWAT team was
Called! More than half the patrons were arrested. Last night
One of our regular bar hops came in talking the same old talk
About how nobody loved her. She had no reason to live and nothing to
Give. I said to her, 'life is not as bad as you think.'

Here have some coffee ice tea on the house. 'I need a long island ice
Tea', she muttered. Kerris asked 'where we're YOU a few hours ago?
She happily replied ' Sizzling Sam's Bar and Grill, been there all night.'
Good ole key in ignition condition Sam. Karen was starting to SOBER UP.

Lanikah D. Wadi Prosecutorial Attorney/Child advocate by day, graced the
Establishment. What a vision. Very attractive. She sat down and glumly
Explained her latest case.' A 14 year old kid was beaten to death by his parents for stealing $300 of the rent money due The next day. Just a small fraction of the whole amount.His parents are charged with child abuse, conspiracy to commit murder and a slew of other charges. The father used a bat the mother an extension cord. We will prosecute to the fullest extent.

Finally Jaret Jason his last man on deck was in the place it was ready to be locked down,2 customers and Max the bouncer remained. 'Hey, Hakim'
They bro hugged. 'I'll Have some Hennessey', Kerris left and shortly
Returned with a full bottle. 'On the HOUSE.' It seems to me as if you're in a bind. Kerris took his seat and Jaret sang his troubling
Story and Kerris's fortune of glory. He announced he was
Leaving his wife but she doesn't know it. 'I'm moving to Hawaii to
Live with my second lover, my baby's mother.'

I gave him my card and said Kerris Hakim Attorney by day
Bartender trade by night.