Josiah
Josiah had felt heartbreak before. Every time a boyfriend left for the final time, he’d been sad. Each time was further proof that he wasn’t good enough for a stable, loving relationship. Maybe he hadn’t lived with an example of one in his childhood and that had affected him.
He’d survived, he’d grown up, he’d gotten a job, and now owned the Hare. His professional life was a testament to his survival. Now if only his heart had decided to latch onto someone else.
The twins had taken one look at him on Sunday and told him to go upstairs and not come down. They’d called in reinforcements to run the place and Nelson had brought him a pizza from the pizza place on the corner. The kids were worried and it wasn’t as if they couldn’t make an educated guess.
On Monday evening, Josiah was behind the bar. They had a bouncer for later in the evening, and he’d forced Nelson to take the night off. Myra, their other bouncer, was a five-and-a-half-foot-tall unassuming-looking woman. She sat on Nelson’s stool by the doors and always had a nice word for the people coming and going. She could also subdue a violent drunk three times her size faster than Nelson. Luckily, she hadn’t had to do that often in the couple of years she’d been around.
Elena, their backup crew bartender, handled the cocktails while Josiah took care of the stuff that didn’t need mixing.
He had just handed over a glass of white wine and a beer to a couple when he saw Myra hold the door open for a guy in a wheelchair. They were talking animatedly, and Myra nodded at something the man was saying.
The couple left to find a table, and the guy rolled to the side of the bar where Myra had directed him.
“Hey, I’m Alfie. Myra said you have an accessible bathroom through the staff entrance?”
Josiah rounded the end of the bar and shook the offered hand. “I’m Josiah, nice to meet you. And yeah, here.”
He kept the swinging door open for Alfie to roll through.
“To be fair, I could use the men’s room if I wanted to, but I feel a bit shaky today so I thought I’d ask since you have the accessibility sign among the other stickers by the door.”
The bathroom was to the left and the staff used it as much as the one further down the hall, but at least it wasn’t used by any other customers than those who actually needed it. Alfie wheeled himself toward the door and pushed it open.
“Hey, no stairs!” Alfie called out.
Josiah waited until Alfie came back out. “You mean you’ve seen an accessible toilet on top of stairs?” he had to ask.
“Oh yeah. Twice since I had to start using the wheels.” Alfie patted the wheels of his chair and grinned. “It’s funny how blind you are to the accessibility stuff until you have days when you need a chair to get around.”
“I can picture that. Sorry that the world is shit.”
They moved back toward the swinging doors.
“Nah, the last couple of years have taught me that I can overcome a boatload of stuff. This is one of them.”
“Still. Shitty,” Josiah insisted, because right now that was his mindset. “Can I hold that for you, it’s a bit unpredictable and heavier than it looks.”
“Sure, thanks.”
Josiah reached over Alfie and held the door open while Alfie went through. “Can I get you anything to drink or did you just come in to use the bathroom?”
“Would the latter be okay?” Alfie seemed surprised.
“Yeah, absolutely. No stairs and all, you know.” Josiah grinned a little.
Alfie chuckled. “Okay. Well sure, can I get a beer?”
“Can I see an ID?” Josiah countered.
“Oh, sure.” It seemed like Alfie knew that he had a bit of a babyface going on. Josiah would’ve sold him the beer without an ID, but since the law was the law and he believed in setting an example.
It turned out Alfie was twenty-two. He got out of his chair and sat on the bar stool at the end. “Do you want me to collapse the chair?”
“Nah, it’s not in the way here.” Josiah gestured Elena closer. “Hun, Alfie’s chair is right here, so when you go around, keep an eye out.”
“Sure! Nice to meet you!” Elena, friendly as always, held out a hand for Alfie to shake.
