(Opening to a new story)

The Refuse People

By DHMcCarty  11/1/2018

"You should have just pulled the trigger."

Jacquie pinched his Camel between thumb and forefinger, took a final drag and stubbed  it out in the ashtray. He was looking at Davey's reflection in the bar back mirror. 36 years at a punch press had hunched his back and stiffened his neck. Anyone wanting a face to face with Jacquie, sat at a table.

"You got a hug and a little sympathy but she'll never see you in the same way again. You slit your own throat. You just didn't cut deep enough. Now you're gonna bleed the rest of your life. Might as well move on because that relationship is going to die a slow death."

Simon strolled down to our end of the bar with a bottle of Bushmills in his hand and arched his eyebrows. Davey nodded. Si topped off his glass.

"You driving Davey?"

"No. I took the C-Line Si. Just as quick without a parking fee."

"How about you Jacquie. You about to call it a night? You got five Old Fitz in the bag."

"Simon, you keep count with an adding machine. Only place in town that still has a Pitney Bowes."

"If it ain't broke, why fix it."

Si looked down the bar at Rebecca who was scrounging in her tote bag. She pulled out a hard pack of Mavericks and glanced Simon's way with a toothless smile. He reached in his pocket for his Zippo.

"Si, what's Rebecca drinking?"

"Popov Vodka. Three bucks a shot."

Davey peeled four ones off his roll and slid them to Simon.

"Tell her it was Jacquie after he leaves. Maybe it will help her keep warm tonight. You know where she's sleeping?"

"I don't ask."

Jacquie rose from his bar stool, buttoned his pea coat and put an old wool drivers cap on his head. He placed his hand on Davey's shoulder and looked him in the eye.

"You still got the .38?"

"It's on my bedside table."

"Davey, I’ll never suggest you use it but I don't think it's a sin either. Life is overrated.

Just don't ever talk to your lover about it. She'll give  a hug, pat you on the back and maybe even drag you into her bed for a sympathy fuck. But she will never forget it. You will never be the same man in her eyes. One moment of weakness and you lose their respect forever. I remember the way Mary looked at me on her death-bed. She told me to keep my chin up, closed her eyes and died. Not even an 'I love you Jacquie boy'.

Men aren't privy to depression  Davey. That's why we don't live as long as women. we have to keep it inside."

He smiled and headed out the door.

Simon waved at him as he passed than turned to Davey and pointed at the clock.

"Last C-line leaves in 15 minutes Davey Boy. It's a long walk back to Ste. Antoine."

He stood, buttoned up his field jacket"Davey, I’ll never suggest you use it but I don't think it's a sin either. and pulled his wool beanie down over his ears. As he started walking to the door, Simon braced his arms on the bar and looked right at him.

"So Davey. See you next week?"

He stopped in his tracks and looked at the floor for a moment. He reached in his back pocket for his wallet and pulled out $25.00 and an old $20.00 McDonalds gift certificate. He dropped the cash on the bar and slipped the certificate into Rebecca's tote bag as he passed.

"Yeah Simon. See you next Tuesday."