Caller Unknown

Bar Shift

The sunlight bled through the dull windows, the neon signs outside flickered on and off and inside the bar was mellow, soft classic music playing for no one in particular and the booths in the corners of the room and the table tops was more or less empty, with a few overgrown stragglers. Adrian, a short and thin woman, long wavy hair tied into two tight braids and left to lay on her chest, her bright green eyes glowed in the dimness of the bar, her eyes sharp and unforgiving, lips a sweet rosy red and delicate heart shaped, she stood on the other side of the bar putting bottle after bottle up into the shelves she faced. She read the labels, checked the corks and seals, and inspected the brown liquids inside the glass bottles. After she tended to the tap, making sure the nozzle was clean, as well as the keg, she hurriedly replaced the ice bin and returned to finally polish the clean glasses.

"Adrian," a woman's voice rose over the quietness in the bar, having Adrian quickly whip her gaze towards the door around the bar which led to the breakroom and managers office, "finish up here and you're welcome to go home."

The womans name was Kendra and she was absolutely stunning, her skin a dark brown, eyes light as honey and her brown hair was short and coily, she was tall and toned. Adrians face flushed slightly as she looked up at the gorgeous woman.

"Sure thing." Adrian said, turning back to the glass cup in one hand and the white rag in the other.

She bobbed her head slightly to the tune of the music playing from the worn gold and bronze jukebox, and scanned the tired looking faces at the tables. An old gray bearded man sat at the booth in the far right corner of the room, the hanging light above him gave him an odd dark downcast making him look mysterious, at the tables nearer to the center of the room and somewhat close to the bar was a group of younger men and two women, the chatted loudly but no one paid them any mind, even the old tired man that dozed on the bar did not seem to even shift as they laughed loudly or shouted. Adrian found herself cracking a small smile as she listened to the group of friends banter and the old man, who she called Inside Dave, snored happily.

As she watched her gaze was moved to the entrance glass door that opened, the brass bell above it jingled sweetly, and three overly large men stumbled into the bar. They wore layers of camo, even their hats were camo, boots a muddy mess and their strong musk of tobacco chew and cigarettes quickly filled the room as they approached the bar. All eyes on Adrian. The shortest but largest of them stopped at the bar, grinning at her as the other two talked amongst themselves in low mutters, Adrian forced a kind smile, and held her breath slightly.

"What can I get for you today?" She asked, tilting her head up to look at him.

He smiled, revealing brown stained teeth and the beginnings of decay, she held back a grimace, "three lagers in frosted mugs and six whiskey shots."

"Okay," she nodded, bending forward slightly to reach into the mini freezer beneath the bar, and retrieved three frosted beer mugs, "and what brands?"

He shrugged, "whatever you would recommend, Darling."

The pet name sent a disgusted shiver across her spine, hair standing up on her arms, but again she forced a smile, her cheek dimpled slightly, "alright I will have your drinks ready in a moment-"

His friends, or brothers by the looks of it, let out loud boisterous laughter, both looked down at her with chubby faces hiding their eyes in a slight squint. The older looking, his hair a more graying color and balding, he grinned as he spoke with a thick accent, "so whats a pretty thing like you doin in a place like this?"

She set six small shot glasses down onto the bar top, her patience quickly thinning, "well I like to think I got lucky with this job but truth is Matyr was desperate in looking for employees."