Easter Sunday was no day to spend alone in my hovel so I drove down to the Roadkill Bar & Grille on County Road 9.
There were only four people sitting at the bar — a couple acting real cozy down at the end, and a young guy and an older guy sitting alone. My addition made it three guys sitting alone.
I exchanged cordial nods with the two other guys and sat down next to them. Misery loves company. The bartender was a tough looking biker type in a T-shirt and rally cap who I hadn’t seen before.
“Is Ray off today?” I asked.
“Easter,” is all he said.
“Where is everybody?” I asked.
“Family,” he said.
I ordered a beer to wash down the trail dust. It went down fast.
“Another?” the bartender asked.
I shook my head and ordered a vodka martini.
“Menu?” he said. This guy was a one-word man.
“I know what I want,” I said, and ordered a ham and salami sandwich and potato salad with egg. Easter dinner at the Roadkill.
I had a glass of red wine with my meal. The food was good. I followed it with a couple more martinis.
“Desert?” the bartender said.
“A liquid desert is in order,” I said. “Can you make me an Easter Bunny cocktail?”
“What?” he said giving me a stern look.
Fancy drinks aren’t my style, but since it was a special occasion. “Do you have dark crème de cacao?” I asked.
His stern look became sterner. “What else?” Two words.
“Vodka and cherry brandy,” I told him. “About a shot of each.”
He turned slowly (Slowly he turned… hahaha) and set about it.
The cocktail arrived. “One Easter Bunny,” he said with a forced smile.
“Have one yourself,” I told him. “On me.”
He raised his heavy eyebrows. “Okay,” he said, and turned again. He returned with his own Easter Bunny cocktail. We raised our glasses. “Happy Easter,” we said in unison. We drank.
“This is good,” he said. Three words.
It was very delicious so I ordered another, and another for him. And one for the older guy and the younger guy. The couple down the end of the bar had left. There were just us four guys, drinking our Easter Bunny cocktails and having a good time. Thank you, Jesus.