Sometimes things work out.

[April 12th, 2006] Sometimes, sometimes, things work out. A while back, I took home one of our regular alcoholics from his regular bar, but he did not have his regular $4 on him. He apologized profusely and promised he'd pay me next time. Naturally, I didn't see him again for months, whereas I'd had him five times in the previous two weeks.

But when I see that Holiday Inn lounge call come in tonight, I think, "Aha, here's my chance!" I stalk into the bar, mock-furious, pointing my finger at him. "YOU!" I yell. "You stiffed me last time!" The other patrons laugh, he laughs, and says he remembers, but "I haven't seen you in such a long time, I was wondering if I'd ever get a chance to pay you."

I pat him on the shoulder and tell him I'll be waiting in the cab. And I wait, and wait, as I always do, because he is always very drunk, and very slow, and takes a very long time to say goodbye to absolutely everyone in the bar.

When he finally gets in the cab, he spends the entire three-minute ride apologizing for last time, despite my telling him not to worry so much about it, just give me four extra bucks and we're even. He gives me 40, saying, "Because it was my fault and I should not have inconvenienced you like that." My response: "Dude, trust me, I wasn't that inconvenienced!" but he insists, on principle. Would that more people had principles like that.