2 New Friends

She was a new face at this bar, at least for me that is. Red-headed, freckles, brown eyes, and shortened hair that didn't stretch pass her ears. Her jawline, protruding sharp and announced.

"I don't mind," I gesture to the chair across from me. She pulls the chair out and turns it around so that the back is facing the table; she sits down leaning her head atop the back.

"We don't get that many new faces 'round here, who are ya?" She stares long and hard, "You're not that new guy who was taking over Grandma Linda's ranch?" The woman raises her brow, eagerly awaiting an answer.

"That I am. I used to come down here all the time as a kid to help her out during the summers. I was kind of surprised she left me the land instead of one of my cousins that live in the next town over," I say as I take a drink from the glass, "My name's Jackson Schmidt, it's a pleasure."

"Nice to meet ya, Jackson. I'm Adelaide Marie Mollohan, people call me Addie for short." Addie outstretches her arm across the table, waiting for me to shake it. I reciprocate and shake her hand.

"Why doncha let me buy you a drink," Addie shifts her attention towards the bar, "Hey Sam, can you bring over a couple of bears," she shouts.

"He's at his limit for tonight, Addie. He should—" Sam gets cut off.

"Just bring the damn Blue Moons, Sam! He's a big boy, he can handle his drinks." Addie smirks as Sam gives up and begins to work on the order.

"I honestly shouldn't drink any more tonight. I've already downed three of them, and I'm already feeling a little tipsy. But thank you, anyway." I give a plastered smile at Addie, as she returns a mischievous one.

"Nonsense, you can never drink too much. Just sit back and enjoy the damned free beer," Addie says, "That bartender may seem like he puts his foot down, all ya gotta do is give him a little push." Addie laughs.

I guess I won't be driving home tonight then. It's been a while since I've been able to enjoy myself like this, and not only drink to satiate the feelings of loss, and hopelessness. Did I find myself a friend tonight, I wonder? My first friend in a long while happens to be someone I met in a bar. If I recall correctly, didn't my mother warn me about making friends in these type of places? Well, it doesn't matter. She seems nice and the kind to party.

We passed the time talking and drinking. This girl— I mean Addie, has me laughing like no tomorrow. One drink became two in what felt no time at all. The night passed quickly, and before I knew it, it was an hour before close.

"Where did time go tonight, Addie? I didn't even realize that it got this late," I chuckle, "I forgot to ask though, what do you do around here?"

"My daddy and momma are farmers, and so am I. We own the farm just to the south of town. We grow a lotta corn, tobacco, and wheat in the summer months," Addie says, "If you ever swing by, I'm sure we could give ya some kind of bargain."

"I'll have to take you up on that sometime. I've never smoked fresh tobacco." I say before finishing the rest of the beer in my glass.

"The last harvest we did is still drying out in the sheds, it'll be a few more days before it's ready; if you want to stop by then." Addie chugs down the rest of her glass before slamming it down on the table. I'm surprised it didn't shatter at the force it hit the table.

"Addie will you be careful with the glasses. You can't keep breaking them!" Sam shouts from across the room.

"Sorry, Sam!" Addie waves and gives a nervous smile, "I gotta be more careful. He's gonna end up making me pay for the glasses I break."

"I should have done that after the last five. How can I make money if I can't serve anything?" Sam glances at Addie. He lets out a sigh and comes to the table to collect the glasses. He hands Addie the bill before walking off and shaking his head.

"Sam is like family to me, as much as I come here and tell him all my problems. He's kind of like a therapist. Hey may not say what you might like to hear, but it's truth and it helps."

"Well it was a lotta fun tonight, Jackson. We should do this again sometime 'round," She says as she almost falls off the chair, leaning, "Why don't we trade numbers. I could even introduce ya to the folk around here."

I smile and nod my head as I pull my phone out from my back pocket. We exchange numbers before she happily runs out of the bar waving goodbye. I leave my portion of the bill from earlier on the table along with a tip for Sam. I waddle from the counter to the door. I didn't even bother taking my keys because I'm in no condition to drive tonight. That's not a big deal though, where I live it's only about a thirty minute jog. The only issue I have to worry about is making it home safe. Hopefully, that is.