Nobody's Place: Surprise

         It was another night at Nobody's Place, but it wasn't just another night for Joe. Standing behind the bar, sipping his Heineken, he had to wonder why the bar was so empty. He figured some of the regulars would show up for his birthday but none were there.

         Bo was at his usual spot at the door and hadn't even mentioned Joe's birthday. Crystal was in the DJ booth on the stage and had played a song for him. Thirty six years old and no one seemed to care much. Joe decided to leave.

         He told Bo to tend bar since it was empty enough for him to check ID there instead of at the door. Joe went upstairs to his apartment and left instructions for Bo to call if there were any problems. Once at home he opened another Heineken and checked for email. Not a single one, except his mother's, was in his mailbox.

         He decided to just relax and enjoy his unexpected night off. Trying not to think about the absent birthday wishes he popped "Coyote Ugly" into the DVD player and leaned back on the couch. Halfway through a movie Joe knew by heart the phone rang. It was Bo.

         Apparently all the power went out in the bar. Joe couldn't figure out how the power had gone out there but not in his upstairs apartment but said he'd be right down. When he got outside the first thing he noticed was the bar sign was unlit and then he realized he couldn't even see into the bar through the window. It was completely dark.

         Joe went inside and Bo met him at the door with a candle. The bar seemed like early morning with all the silence but it was only 11:00 at night. As he made his way, carefully, to the bar, the lights suddenly came on and the bar was filled with people screaming "surprise."

         Bo and Crystal had arranged for everyone to stay away until 10:30 knowing Joe would take off if there was no business. It was a hell of a surprise party. Even Tom and Joy, just back from their honeymoon made it in and then came the biggest surprise of all. Chrissy, the unavailable love of Joe's life, made a rare appearance at the bar. She loved him too but was married and usually stayed away to avoid temptation.

         They presented Joe with a bottle of Johnnie Walker Scotch, green label, as a present from all. An odd present for a bar owner, but even Joe didn't get to drink three hundred dollar scotch very often.

         At closing time Joe sat at the bar, with Chrissy sitting next to him, sipping his expensive scotch. For one night the Nobody's Place family had all come together to celebrate, just for Joe, and he felt warmer than the scotch would normally make him feel. It was just another night at Nobody's Place but Joe's smile stood bigger than ever.