Chapter 18, Part Two

No Honor; Chapter 18, Part 2: Ignition

I slept in that day, and I didn't leave the hotel, 'til it was time ta open. We had a good dozen or so early, and I was happy ta see that Millie was among 'em. Better still, she looked more like 'erself, and she was in better spirits.

She said 'Hi', and ordered, and slipped off ta talk ta some guys. I even seen 'er smilin'... Three of her girls was workin' tha place, and that included Ms. Curvy. I caught the young woman's eyes, and waved her over.

I said, "I'm sorry, what's your name?"

"Janice."

"Janice... a pleasure ma'am."

"Likewise."

"Janice, kin I get you somethin'? On tha house?"

She thought a minute, then she said, "Just orange juice."

"Not much of a drinker are ya?"

She smiled and shook her head. So, I poured 'er some OJ, and I came in close, and I nodded in Mildred's direction, and I said, "How's she doin'?"

Millie was still chattin' it up, and grinnin', at a faraway table.

Janice said, "Much better. Lots... There been some trouble, at tha howse, that's been botherin' er... and... wit Emily's death..."

"I hear ya."

"But taday, we here celebratin'."

"Is that right?"

"Yeah", she said, "I'm leavin' here."

"Is that right?"

She smiled. "Yeahhh... Awl my debts is paid, and I got enough money naow thet... well... There's this nice man... down in Kentucky..."

"Sure", I said.

"God willin", she said, "In a few weeks, I'll be married."

I smiled. "Congratulations, Janice."

"Thank ya sir", she said. "You know...  it was Millie, thet helped this happen. We put money aside, and we planned, and... She a saint, I swear, she... She wants us awl outta here."

I nodded. "I hope you all do get out."

After that, I was in a pretty good mood. Dave came in... I had a few dranks, and... I got ta thinkin'... Y'know... maybe I'd get lucky.

Maybe Roy'd keel over one day soon. Maybe Marco would start feelin' tha pressure, and pack up, n' leave.

He wasn't the first man ta run The Station, and I doubted he'd be the last. With a new leader, we could see a new future. Maybe he'd be tha type o' man, ta turn over men like Roy on principle... Maybe he'd run a fair shop, and give a fair shake, and keep some kinda order.

Well, I was sippin' my third Bourbon, and thinkin on that, when I saw smoke, comin' from the bar's east wall. Before I knew it, people was yellin 'Fire!' and runnin', and I looked up and saw tha buildin' was empty. I finished my drank, put down my glass, and walked outside. There was a buncha people starin'.

I turned round and seen that my house was swallowed up by flames. And since the rear o' the house is close to the bar's east wall, that also lit up, and tha fire was quickly headin' up, to tha ceilin'. Honestly, at tha time, I crossed my arms, and shook my head, and smiled...

And I said to mahself, "Un-fuckin-believable".

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