Love Poem: Bartender Tales Ii: Changes

Bartender Tales Ii: Changes

Kerris  spoke to Damian the junior 
Bartender on the phone.  "Yeah, it's 
8 o'clock now.  I'll be there  at 9 to
Open.  Meet me there at that time."
He smiled happily thinking about 
His wife Lanikah.  "Alright, later
Man."  Hakim hung the phone up.

Kerris left at 8:30pm.  He opened 
Fahrenheit  Lounge every night at
9.  It's been in business ten years now.
During that time things had 
Changed.  Mike Baker passed away.
Cancer had eaten him.   Hakim
Made sure he had the funeral of a
King all regalia included.  

Black and gold casket,  burgundy 
Herst and a two day funeral for 
Those who weren't able to be there 
For the first date.   He and Lanikah 
Were married  the year before,
June 5, 2017.  Fahrenheit  had an 
Up stairs  dinning and dancing room
Now.  TVs were mounted in certain 
Locations  two up stairs four down stairs.
Wall to Wall carpeting.

Lanikah opened the place before he got 
There.
Hakim pulled into the parking lot 
And quickly stepped from his new
Red Ferrari,  strolled into the
Lounge.  At 6' 4"   260 pounds of muscle bound
he was an imposing Figure.
Greeting familiar faces,
"Hi baby."  Lanikah's musical voice
Traveled to  his hungry ears.
They shared a kiss.  Ferdinand 
Cools said, " so you two are 
Married huh?"  "Yes" Lanikah replied 
With a wide grin.  

She looked up at him and he looked
Down to her and said, "you are my
Better heart attack." And she happily replied 
"You are the sun in my world."  An expensive emerald 
Engagement ring had shown on her finger 
Along with an emerald encrusted gold
Wedding band.  Hakim had the same.
Behind the bar Damian served sex
On the  beach to a young woman 
He carded her.  She was of legal age.
"GOOD DEAL!"  Hakim commended him. 
"Jaret called to say that he'd be 
Arriving in 3 days"  Lanikah told
Him.   " He divorced his wife moved
To Hawaii Married his second 
Lover his first son's mother."  Hakim 
Told Jaret's story while he motioned 
Them both towards the parking lot 
To admire his new Ferrari.  He 
Didn't wait for their compliments.

"That's my LEAN MEAN LIGHTNING 
MACHINE!."  Hakim bellowed with 
Attitude. As he draped them both
With his long arms.
Lanikah saw the car a Thousand times.  
But he liked to Show off.  Cools paid him
Compliments.  "You have good taste." 
Ferdinand Cools stated  scratching his
50 year old Graying temple. "Well,"  Hakim 
Said "I'm Kerris Hakim Attorney at Law,
Bartender trade by night."
The next few days passed like
Lightning.

Jaret Jason entered the premises at
10:30pm.   Kerris gave a loud Holler. 
"Aaaah, J.J  my man!!  How in the hell have 
You been!!?"  They bro hugged for about
A minute.  Finally they parted. "I'm damn
HAPPY to be here!"  Jaret  exclaimed 
Stretching his arms out to show his
Intensity.  "Damn happy!  I'm keeping by
The Holiday Inn.  I drove a rental car 
Over here."   He took a deep breath 
While he reclined into the cushioned 
Booth.  Nikah heard the familiar voice 
And came to join the party.  She screamed 
With excitement when she saw him. 
"Oh baby!  It's been a few years!"  She
Embraced him tightly as he stood.  Her
Long dark hair in a bun became undone.
Flowing pass her shoulders.  She then 
Twisted it back into a bun as Jaret
Watched thinking how gorgeous she was.
He then turned his attention back to Hakim.

The Lounge was becoming crowded as
People ordered Harvey wall bangers,
Vodkas and Bacardi.  Bacardi rum 
Punch was the cocktail of the night.

Kerris began, "Now let me tell you about the 
Stories I've heard recently while serving 
drinks at FAHRENHEIT."
Hakim passed his fingers over his mustache
Smoothing it.
"A man's wife committed suicide because her
Dog died.  She couldn't live without that dog."
He cleared his throat.  Jaret squinted in the
Soft light, eagerly awaiting the next tale.
"One patron told me of his romantic interlude 
With a MERMAID!!"  Kerris was animated.  
Raising his eyebrows.  Nikah interrupted,
"Time check 2 o'clock."   She Whispered  
"Cash  draw prepared  and accounted for
3,000  count.  In the safe."  It was to be
Deposited the next  morning.
She bent and kissed 
Him.  He gave her a knowing wink. She
 then sprang into business back at the bar.
"Now where was i"
Hakim continued caressing his goatee.   Jaret
Reminded him.  "The man with the mermaid 
Must have been hallucinating."   "Oh yes
Must  have been."  Hakim commented.
"Oh yeah 108 year old identical twin
Sisters found in a deathly embrace.  
They'd been dead for 2 days before their 
Family checked on them.

"Another instance a man's 3 year old son
Had a heart attack when he discovered 
His puppy was lost."   Hakim told one more
Tale as he jumped to his feet  to lock 
The lounge down.  " A wife divorced her 
Husband for not paying the light bill. For  ten
Years they'd been living in darkness."
Hakim locked the front gate first.  Then 

He engaged both bolt locks on the door.
All the patrons had long since left the bar.
The place was dark.  As Maximus the 
 Bouncer turned the Last lights off.  
They each  said their goodbyes.
Kerris shut the gate to the back entrance. 
"Later my brother."  Hakim Said to Jaret as they 
Bro hugged.  "Well, alright then!  I'll come back 
Again when I'm visiting other friends."  They 
Shared one last hug.  Then J.J sped off into
The cool dark night.  The Ferrari was parked
Steps away. 
It wasn't long before  Mr. And Mrs. Hakim returned to their posh
Cozy surroundings they've enjoyed since getting 
Married.  The second floor duplex afforded them 
4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.  They both fell into
Bed.  He in flannel boxers and she in a silk night 
Gown.  "What a day!"  They simultaneously agreed.
"Good night my love." Kerris uttered.  
"Good night.
See you in the morning, baby." She said
THE  CONCLUSION!!!!