The bar was painted black. It was disgustingly dirty and grim. But the huge redwood beams going across the ceiling were beautiful. They matched some paint swatches to the beams and decided on a cheery yellow. They washed everything down, shampooed the carpet, dusted, washed glasses, bought some new glasses, ordered a starter bar of the basic seven, bought a small kegerator, plugged in one of the cash registers and began looking for a bartender.
A friend was working for one of the major liquor distributors at the time and called in some favors from the warehouse guys. They got coasters, napkins, glasses, signs, mirrors, everything to make the bar feel homey. They were about to open the bar, but still needed a bartender. Then they met Bunny.
She sat very lady like, hair done, make up just right, nice outfit, nice smile, experienced. She was hired on the spot. The new owners grew to love her like an errant daughter. They cried with her when she got in fights with her boyfriend. They worked for her when she called in “sick”. They bought her a trailer when she needed a place to live. They defended her when people said she was ripping them off.
She had a sassy way about her, “Just kidding,” she said again and again as she joked with everyone. She made good drinks, gave good service, cooked food for lunch, made sandwiches, organized parties, and decorated for every holiday. She could take a snort with the best of them, but she didn’t really drink much and she watched her figure.
She quickly developed a nice little crowd who loved to watch her behind the bar. She was good to look at. Sometimes she would dress up in outfits to titillate the guys. Like she would wear a low cut top and tight pants or thigh high boots with shorts and a midriff top. On different days she dressed up as a Renaissance bar maid, a rabbit, a devil, a cat, Wonder Woman, and a nurse. The guys would call each other up on their cell phones to say, “Get your ass down here, Bunny is dressed up as a …..”
One day she dressed up like a Christmas elf and gave all the guys manicures. It was the funniest thing to see all these big hairy dirty blue collar guys with their hands dipped in wax getting their nails filed and buffed! She made great tips, kept things organized, and entertained the customers.
She tried out for the local thong contest. It was Women’s Weekend and about 2,000 women were in town to play and party. When the boss asked her if she was going to try for the thong contest, she turned her back around, slithered her leather pants down around her knees and proceeded to undulate her hips and shake her fanny. She had a beautiful ass! Brown and firm with just the right amount of jiggle. She didn’t win, but she put on a great show. The smell of her musk still lingers…
Honestly, she was taking advantage a little here and there. Giving away free drinks to her friends and favorite customers… confusing tips with payment for goods instead of ringing it up. She was loved, but she had a few problems: gambling, poor choice in boyfriends, drugs, and sex. She was constantly falling for the guy who would demean her, yell at her, cheat on her and beat her up.
The couple of good guys she dated she abused reciprocally. She was quick to head for the casino when she got some money in her pocket often gambling through the night and calling in sick the following day. Because she was behind the bar, she was offered drugs which she smoked and snorted willy nilly.
The drugs made her horny, so she ended up with some guy or another balling her brains out. She battled these demons constantly. She knew how to be good, but temptation was all around her.
Because of her tardiness, her absences, and the gossip about the drugs and pilfering, more than a few people said she should be fired. But the boss refused. She still longs to hear her laugh, hear her say, “Just Kidding!” Watch her behind the bar working her magic. If she was still working there, maybe we should go by for a drink sometime. Huh? Hmmm? Deep sigh… Bunny.
(First published 8/12/11)
