Happy Hour

[ushouldcwhatic]

Johnny stopped by the Bar for some fried paradoxes and a beer. But instead he got a note on a napkin.

"Wait, you want me? Oh, all right. Sure. Enjoy your nap."

He saw about fixing up a sign.

Specials
Jedi Mind Trick
Vulcan Mind Meld
Samuel Adams on tap

Non-alcoholic drinks on request.

Stump the psychic and your drink's free.

[tiny tag: Earl

Comments

[longtonguedog]

An old man wanders up to the bar as the gentleman puts out the Specials board, hands stuffed deep in his pockets. He's wearing faded jeans, and a well-worn plaid flannel work shirt over a Virginia is for Lovers t-shirt.

He peers at the sign and eventually points with an amiable grin. "I sense a theme."

[longtonguedog]

Earl decides to give him an easy out. "Like the shirt? I just got it yesterday. I collect 'em. T-shirts that is. They're like postcards you can wear."

He beams at John, like this is the most clever thing he's ever said.

[ushouldcwhatic]

Johnny gave a small laugh at that, and remarked, "Ever been to Maine? I'm sure you can find a number of souvenir shops around Portland or Bangor."

[longtonguedog]

"You know, I have been to Maine. 'Course all my shirt says is, I little red heart Maine. Your people are very straightforward that way."

Earl nods, matter of fact.

[ushouldcwhatic]

John shrugged, "We're pretty straight forward about a lot of things." It's the New England way.

He added, "From a small town there. Cleaves Mills."

[longtonguedog]

"Cleaves Mills. Sounds like a good, solid name for good, solid people."

"Maybe what you need isn't a vacation, but a trip home?"

[ushouldcwhatic]

Johnny shook his head at that.

"I can't. Not now." Stillson's been taken care of, but he would still be seen as a fugitive if he went back for trying to shoot the vice president. Plus the fact he likely wasn't supposed to have survived the event.

[longtonguedog]

The old man frowns, leaning on his elbows on the bar. "That's got to be hard on you, I bet. Any place else you might consider sanctuary? Someplace you feel safe."

[ushouldcwhatic]

Johnny shrugged, "Here's all right for the time being. Still looking for that elsewhere. Been too famous back home anyway."

He gestured to the sign.

"Because of that." Even with the security measures at the Smith estate, there were still angry emails and letters, pleas of desperation, and death threats, with several citing words like false prophets.

[longtonguedog]

"Hmm, that's got to be tiring after awhile. But still, you wouldn't give it up, would you?"

[ushouldcwhatic]

"No way, I had opportunities to do so, but the stakes were too high without it. I've needed it for that."

And now he was used to it even after his mission was over. Even with the tumor in remission in his head, he was fine.

[longtonguedog]

Earl nods, as if he already knew the answer before he heard it.

"God never gives us anything he knows we can't handle."

[ushouldcwhatic]

Johnny just shrugged about that, "Never had much of an opinion on him. A coma gave my ability, not some supposed universal entity." He still didn't really believe, even with Rev. Purdy's frequent admonishments.

[longtonguedog]

"Well, you know what they say about mysterious ways. Then again, I'm the kind of person who thinks the fact that you and I are having this conversation right now, well, that's as much a miracle as your gift. Or this bar for instance. This place is pretty miraculous, don't you think?"

[ushouldcwhatic]

Johnny shrugged, "I know current science can't even begin to explain this place. And going by some future timelines, it's still looking for answers. But that doesn't make it a miracle."

[longtonguedog]

Earl frowns thoughtfully.

"So you think if science can explain something, it's not a miracle anymore?"