Then he blew his nose into a bar napkin, rolled it into a ball and did a free throw dead center into the gray trash can placed in the corner where the east and south sides of the rectangular bar met. Bobby then continued talking as John started washing some 12-ounce beer glasses. "I had a psychiatrist that I used to date tell me that mentally and emotionally, queers, rapists and child molesters are exactly the same. The only difference is their victims and the fact that some queers like to play the role of victim themselves," Bobby said. 

      "Can't argue with you there," answered John.

      Bobby shook his head in agreement and continued. "I'm about ready to move to some other country myself. I haven't felt welcome here since I came back from Vietnam. That's been what? Jeez, thirty years ago. What a waste it's been. Here I am a second rate piano player in an Old Yuppie pickup joint and going nowhere fast! This is not how I'd planned to spend my life." 

      "Didn't know you were in Vietnam guy. I'm an ex Green Beret myself. Made it all the way up to major and about ready to pin on the silver oak leaves of a Light Colonel, when they booted my ass out. I agree with you about the queers," answered John with a surprised look on his face. "I'm guessing we'd agree on lots of other things."

      John saw the only paying customer trying to get his attention. He walked over to a small table where a short, pudgy man sat. He took along another bottle of Billybong Beer, a local microbrew made just down the street. After pouring the beer into a fresh glass and collecting two other glasses and two empty bottles, John walked back to the bar and added the beer to the man's bar tab. He glanced over at Bobby and started making him a fresh Gin and Tonic in a tall, frosted glass. John took a deep breath, exhaled a sigh and said.

      "So here I am, and here you are. Both of us, I'm willing to bet, with more brains and talents between us than the average Joe, watching our lives go down the big toilet. This is NOT how I'd planned to spend my life, either!" 

     " And speaking of toilets, I've got to go down the hall and water the horses. Be right back," Bobby said as he turned the wooden bar chair to the right, away from the bar, so he could get off.

     "OK dude. Go for me too, will you? I'll put your drink down at the far end where the overhead lamp's burned out. Maybe you'll luck out and Gary won't notice you. You know something, you and I have been working here going on four years, and it's the first time we've actually started talking. Of course, at night, you're playing sad songs for the lounge lizards and I'm hustling drinks and tips. You want to go out for dinner later? Dinner's on me. There's a new spaghetti and steak house, called Duke and Maria's, that just opened over on Sea Horse Avenue?" Asked John. "I've been meaning to try it. Someplace new for a change." 

      Bobby turned back toward John, put his right hand on his hip, raised a limp-wristed left hand, looked at John and winked. "Just as long as you're not trying to pick me up, you big silly stallion" answered Bobby speaking in an exaggerated faggot lisp.