Where We Want to Be

“Lucy, the apartment I found is perfectly fine. It’s a bit small but my new job pays enough for rent and a bit of extra each month” I groaned, Lucy had taken it to become her job to start pampering me and attempting to spoil me, “You can’t keep shielding me from the real world.”

Lucy looked at me for the longest time before cracking into a smile, “My friend just had a
baby and her job is getting a bit complicated with the baby; she needs an assistant. How do you feel about working with her?”

“No” shaking my head I declined, “I appreciate the offer, but I want to stand up on my own two feet. I like my two jobs at the bar and the café, it pays decently and it’s calming enough for me.”

Muttering a few profanities under her breathe she agreed, “Fine, but she really needs someone for an event this weekend and it would mean the world to me if you helped her out? As a favor to me?”

Rolling my eyes I grabbed my handbag, “I have to be at work in a few minutes. I’ll think it over and get back to you tomorrow about it, okay?”

Squealing she hugged me tightly, “Thank you so much”

“I haven’t promised you anything” I reminded her, walking out of her apartment I made my way down the sidewalk for a good ten minutes before entering a small pub.

The pub was a blessing from god, the part time job at the café made a decent wage when I was still living with Lucy and Mark. But when I was walking past this pub a few weeks ago and saw the help wanted sign I couldn’t help but see this as a blessing.

It paid well, and on busy nights the tips were great. With this job I could now live on my own; don’t get me wrong. I was extremely grateful for what Lucy was doing; but I couldn’t help but feel as if I was invading their privacy.

They had a scheduled life and I lived in the moment; I just didn’t feel comfortable living with them. I was used to walking around in as little clothing as possible, leaving my clothes all over the place and eating at ungodly hours.

Tying the black apron around my jeans I started un-stacking the stools at the bar before moving on to the chairs. I started whipping down the counters to have them squeaky clean, it was only five in the afternoon and there wasn’t any great games going on but I was used to the early wave of the older group who came by for a nice drink before heading home.

James trusted me enough to have a set of keys to the bar to open it in the afternoon; that and the only other employee he had was a teenage boy and at seventeen we didn’t even let him pour the beer to begin with.

“Oi lassie! Can we get a pint over here?”

Laughing I turned around winking at Stan, “Coming right out Stan. How’s the wife?” I asked starting small talk as I poured his usual.

“She sends the love, she wants a some fish and chips to go. Can you do that for me?” he asked as I slid over his drink.

Turning to the guy on the other side of the bar I smiled, “What about you Jimmy? Some of your Irish favorite ?”

He shook his head chuckling, “No thanks hun. But I’m meeting up with my nephew and his friend. But I’ll take some chips”

“Alright boys, two orders of chips it is. Hold down the fort for me” I chuckled as I hoped over the counter and into the kitchen in the back, giving James the order. He didn’t handle the rush hour crowds well so he started the kitchen up letting the cook come in later.

Dinging the bell on top of the counter I waited for him to stick his head out of the fridge, “Two orders of chips James.”

An hour or two passed easily, Kevin was in charge of the tables farther away from the bar while I got the bar and the tables closer; it was a good compromise and it was easier during rush hour.

Rush hour was beginning, most of the good games started in a few minutes and that’s when everyone rushed in to get good seats close to the televisions.

“Lilah, you think I can get my pint now?” Jimmy asked as two boys walked up to him.

“Sure thing, sweet thing” I laughed turning to the two new boys to get their order, “And what can I get you two boys?”

“We’ll just get the same, right Nialler?” the one with the beanie asked his blonde friend who just nodded at me with a blush on his face.

“Alright, three pints for the lovely boys. Anyone else need a drink?” I asked aloud to the rest of the bar.

There was a wave of yells from the guys earning a chuckle from me as I handed out all the drinks that were order and tallying up their bills. Checking on the rest of the tables assigned to me I checked in on Kevin who only had a few tables.

By the end of the night the bar was getting a bit quieter, the outside tables cleaned and stacked as Kevin cleaned the glasses.

“You three need anything else?” I asked whipping the counter area around them.

“Are you closing already?” the same boy with the beanie asked.

I shook my head, “Don’t worry about it, I just wanted to see if I could change the channel; is that alright with you boys?”

“Don’t worry about it love, we’ll be out of your hair soon” he chuckled.

“Honestly don’t worry about it, the bar cleared out pretty early tonight. You guys are an easy crowd, this round’s on me” I assured him as I got the nozzle out, pouring them another serving.

“Thanks Lilah, you’re a doll” Jimmy thanked me.

Grabbing the control I started flipping through the channels, waiting for anything to catch my interest as I landed on an episode of Criminal Minds and leaving it on.