The Ref’s Whistle

Charlie tended bar. He had worked for the state once, was a movie theater manager for a while. He read a lot, sometimes took a class at the local university – in drawing, or piano. But mostly he tended bar. It was a dark, smoke-filled place. Had a couple of pool tables, dart boards, a…

The Simple Life

Some nights were busy, some were not. This one was not. The man on the bar stool swiveled and moved his lips as he read. He looked up from his pages, thinking, then said, “What’s a channeled whelk?” The bartender pulled his head away from the television. A moment later his eyes followed. He scratched…