I decided to do something a bit different today, as a suggestion from Kris. I finished editing the first draft of Detective Florence today (Yay!) so I figured I would post a quick excerpt from the novel on here as my Short Story Sunday. Here you’ll get a little taste of George’s personality. I hope you all enjoy!
I opened the door wide making an awful creaking sound. The wood certainly needed some oil, but when I looked up and noticed the entire bar had quieted down and was staring at me standing in the doorway, I quickly realized why they left the creak. Wouldn’t a simple bell have sufficed?
Walking further into the bar, I heard the door slam shut behind me causing me to flinch. I kept my cool smiling and nodding to everyone I passed as I made my way to the counter. The deeper I walked into the bar, the more people began to speak again. I wasn’t quite sure if they were talking about me or if they were just getting back on with their lives. I hoped the latter.
“Who are you?”
I faced forward. I was too busy checking out my surroundings in the bar; the exits, how many people were in the building, and I definitely wanted to see if I could catch any sight of Naomi or Mitch. However, when a deep booming voice spoke above my head, I was broken out of my thoughts. I stretched my neck all the way back to look at this tall, bulky man right in my face.
This man had to be at least seven feet tall–that may or may not be an exaggeration–and I could have sworn the muscles on his arms had their own muscles. His face was fixated on a frown. If he held that expression for a long period of time he was going to give himself wrinkles.
“I said,” he leaned closer to me, his voice a little more threatening now. “Who are you?”
“Uh, George,” I blinked at him with wide eyes; my neck still arched all the way back. It was beginning to hurt.
“George what?” he growled.
“Williams,” I choked on my own words. “George Williams.” I wasn’t sure why I gave him Lilah’s name instead of my own, but I didn’t want anyone to suspect me of being a detective. Bars don’t like the law enforcement to be hanging around their facility.
“What brings you around here?” the bouncer stood up taller now and folded his big arms over his chest. He was still staring down at me, but his gaze was softer as well as his tone of voice.
“I was just walking by and saw this place.” I shrugged trying to keep it cool. “I have never been in here before, so I decided to give it a try.”
The bounced nodded, and then nodded to the bartender behind the counter.
“Would you like to see my identification?” I smirked while waving my wallet in front of him.
The bouncer chuckled as he returned back behind the counter locking the gate. “We onlt card people we believe to be under 21 years of age. We can tell you are much older.”
“Much older?” I repeated offended. “I’m 30.”
The bouncer shrugged. He didn’t care, but I was still disappointed. I put my wallet away and sat down at the counter. I continued to look around the room to see if I could find any sign of Naomi or Mitch. If neither one of them were here now, I was hoping one of them would show up before I left.
I felt a sharp poke on the back of my head. I turned around, rubbing my head and glared at the bartender, who was now pointing to all the drink behind him.
“That was rude; you could have just asked me what I wanted.” I snarled.
The bouncer glowered at me. “Hey, he’s a mute.”
“Oh,” I smiled apologetically at the bartender, who didn’t seem one bit amused. Someone could have told me. I said this was my first time being here, after all. “I’ll have a water.”
I noticed the bouncer and bartender exchanged puzzled expression, but I turned back around in my seat to scope out all the other tables in the room.
“Buddy, you do realize you’re in a bar, right?” the bouncer once again broke me out of my thoughts.
“Yes,” but I didn’t bother to turn back around to face him again.
“And all you want is water?”
“I don’t drink alcoholic beverages.” I replied.
“But you’re in a bar!” he protested.
“What do you care?” I finally turned to face him. “I’m a paying customer, so it shouldn’t matter what I order.”
“Water is free.” the bouncer growled.
“Oh,” I rubbed the back of my neck. “Well, what do you have that does not contain any alcohol?”
The bartender and bouncer exchanged certain looks again. The bartender then turned back to me and pointed to one part of the menu hanging above his head.
“Soda…” I read. “That’s carbonated and has caffeine. No thank you.” I politely declined with a smile.
“You have to buy something or you’re not getting anything at all.” The bouncer glared at me.
“How about I pay you for the seat I’m sitting in? Is five dollars reasonable?” I began to fish through my wallet.
“Get out. Now.” the bouncer took a step forward pointing to the door.
I immediately jumped out of my seat and began to head towards the exit. I didn’t want to cause any trouble and I knew the bouncer would have me beat in an instant. I looked over my shoulder to make sure he wasn’t following me. He wasn’t, but he was still keeping a close watch on me until I left the building.
