Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of "Every Dark Cloud has a Silver Lining" (without using the actual phrase or literal example). (02/28/08)
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TITLE: One Lucky Man | Previous Challenge Entry
By Alan Zimmerman
03/06/08 -
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Jack looked up, a little surprised, and turned to the bartender. “Do you recognize this character?” He laughed and then continued, “Big Bad Bob. You haven’t been here in so long we thought about sending out a search party.”
“You know I got that job in Fairfax so I don’t pass by here anymore,” Bob responded. “But since I was in the neighborhood …”
“We all thought that since your wife dragged you off to church you weren’t allowed in bars anymore,” Jack countered with a smile.
“I still go, just not as often. But how have you been, buddy?” Bob replied as the bartender, who never forgot a regular customer, put a longneck Bud Light on the bar in front of him.
“Bobby, this world has it in for me. Every day is another problem. When did I see you last? June? July? Anyway, last August my air conditioner died right in the middle of that heat wave. Four hundred bucks to fix it!” Jack told him.
Bob nodded, “I know what you mean. My furnace went out last winter. Cost me five bills, but the repair guy found a gas leak. Who knows? We could have been goners!”
Jack took another drink of beer and shook his head, “Well, I feel like a goner. Just two months ago my truck broke down and they couldn’t fix it right away. I had to rent a car for a week. That really cut into my drinking budget.”
“I’ve got you covered there. I blew the engine in my car a month ago. But get this. It happened right in front of the History Museum. I’ve lived here twenty years and have never been in there. I called the tow truck; then spent two hours in the museum. I’m taking the family next weekend. My car was in the shop for three weeks, so I started riding my bike to work. I’ve lost ten pounds!” Bob responded as he patted his trim belly. He looked around the room but didn’t recognize any other people. New regulars had replaced the old ones – they had replaced him! “How’s the family?”
Jack waved a fly away, and said, “More trouble. Two weeks ago, I found out that my sixteen-year-old daughter is pregnant. I blame her, my wife blames me for not being around enough, Cindy blames both of us for not being better parents. I’ll tell you, life at the house is not very good right now. The three of us are barely on speaking terms.” He took a long drink, finished his beer, and signaled to the bartender for another.
Bob looked his friend in the eye and told him, “I’ve had trouble at my house, too. My oldest son was at a party, somebody started a fight, he pushed a guy, and when the boy fell he broke his arm. Brad was trying to be a peacemaker. And they were all drinking. Then, the parents sued us.”
“That’s a rough one,” Jack replied as he reached for another cigarette. “It’s expensive when lawyers get involved.”
“It worked out ok, though,” Bob explained. “We met with the parents and it turns out both of our sons were heading down the wrong track. They dropped the lawsuit and we got some counseling for the boys. It really brought us closer as a family and we made new friends in the process.”
“You are one lucky man,” and then Jack turned to the bartender, “Get Bob another beer.”
Bob lifted up his hand and said, “No thanks, one’s my limit.”
The two friends paused for a long moment, each first judging the other, then suspending the judgment.
Bob got up to leave and Jack, sounding like he was the bar owner, said, “Don’t be a stranger. Drop in anytime.”
“You bet. Next time I’m in the neighborhood,” was Bob’s reply as he walked out the door one last time.
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