The ambience of the bar is always a stressful but a peaceful noise, the chattiness of people as they try their hardest to tell me what they want but I always get it right.
"One Chardonnay and a Daiquiri" as the young couple spoke to me and observed my hands start some witchcraft. With a swift pour of lime juice and a fast dash of simple syrup. The customer smiled in amazement as my right hand poured the tequila and my left threw the shaker tin behind my head and catch it in the other. As I gave it a thud and began to shake my eyes caught glimpse of my mentor. Tom Caliber. Some saw him as a stranger, I saw him as a preacher. The guy taught me everything I know and to see him enjoy this job as much as myself,some would think we're brothers. I slipped their order away and called the bell for last call.
Time went past as the last customer stumbled out the door and what was once deafening with noise became a quiet ghost town as we packed up shop. Tom stacked the last chair and went upstairs to gather his belongings but as he climbed the first step a smile I've never seen him wear was stuck to his face and he was gone. I polished the last glass and pulled up the mixing jar and began to make the last drink of our friendship. He tumbled down the stairs and adjusted his bakers boy cap as I finished pouring his old fashioned and slid his glass to him he laughed and looked at me.
"Ah I've always loved this time of the year where we close up for Christmas. These final chats of the nights before we spend the next few weeks to our personal lives. How long have you been here again?" As the glittering of his eye looked up.
"6 years tonight. It's all thanks to you Tom, taught me everything I know and the way we serve is always something I'll cherish."
"In the six years you've perfected my Old Fashioned and it's your birthday tomorrow which makes all this even more exciting" as a small present was presented in front of me.
I lifted the lid and what confused me happened to be the keys to the very place we stood. I glared up and laughed as I responded "yea alright I'll lock up" but he cut me off and that's when I knew something about that smile was different
"I've been here 45 years. I remember every drink I've made and brought into this place, I remember every photo that was taken here and I remember the day I hired you as my student and in the time you've been here you've impressed me and my days become slower while yours are becoming faster. Today's the day! Ah Ha. From tomorrow onwards I begin my journey as a retired and free of work man."
"That day has come already? Never thought you'd be excited to finally relax" as a smirk landed on my face as we toasted our glasses.
"But anyway over the last week I wanted to give you something you'd always remember me by which is I spent the last week transferring ownership of this place to you." As he took a swig from his drink and looked to cold,dark street. I stood back in shock and was lost for words for understanding why I never saw that smile before. It was a smile of peace and tranquillity. The man I once called a mentor has now granted me the rank of mentor. The man that stood before me, a man who has experienced and seen things I could only dream off and would never stop running towards things has finished his race and past the torch to me.
"You.. gave me ownership? Tom this is your place, your legacy your trusting me with. Everything that this place stands for it's all under your name" but he said nothing but raised a hand.
"Was my legacy" and put his glass down, adjusted his cap and rose towards the door.
His brutal voice waved over the back of his head and left me completely motionless.
"Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas, and when you open up again I look forward to seeing what you'll achieve on your path" and he was gone. The minute he walked out the door he was nothing more than a stranger into the myst of the night.
Everything felt so different when I locked up and walked along the ocean pathway. A strike of excitement hit my head as I promised myself I will continue the legacy of my mentor but it ended with a simple question.
"Where on gods earth do I even start?"
YOU ARE READING
The Prohibitionist
General FictionA young and passionate bartender has learned all the tricks of the trade from his mentor and couldn't imagine his life without working with him until the day comes and he must continue the legacy of the one who knew all
