to pour me a shot of tequila , I look at her ass and think to myself that I might sneak away and fuck her in the staff bathroom later . She hands me my tequila shot , I slam it down my throat , and place the empty glass back on the bar . I then walk past the stage as the cover band is belting out AC DC ’ s , “ For those about to rock .” As I return to my stool at the front door , I wonder how much longer I can hold out .
I ’ m considering abandoning my plans altogether when Ted walks in sporting his customary smile . Ted is the polar opposite of me in almost every way . I ’ m tall at almost six feet , lean and athletic . Ted looks shorter than his measured height of 5 ’ 9 because he is almost as wide as he is tall . He is a mountain of muscle , but he seems stiff and somewhat awkward while I am loose and easy in my movements . Ted ’ s friendly smile and English features are a stark contrast to my perpetual scowl , clenched jaw and light skinned Afro-American looks . I ’ ve been told my bald head , gold hoop earrings and ruggedness resemble an angry Mr . Clean . Ted looks like the muscle-bound boy next door . We greet each other with a nod . Ted and I used to be the best of friends , but right now I feel like smashing the smug look off his face . I ’ m not about to hide my feelings , and even as big as he is , he knows better than to say anything to tip me over the edge .
Ted takes my seat at the front door , and I return to the main counter , refill my pint glass of rum and coke , and walk to the main stage where I sit on a stool in front of the band . From here I can see the whole bar , including the front entrance . I am exposed sitting in front of a growing crowd , but at least I no longer have to deal with people greeting me and trying to start a conversation . I ’ m here for one reason only , and greeting people is not it .
I watch Ted shake hands and smile at people as they enter the front door . He reminds me of a politician shaking hands and kissing babies . You ’ re a fucking bouncer for Christ ’ s sake ! I think to myself as I take a swig from my drink , trying to wash down the bitter animosity I feel towards my former best friend .
Sooner or later they all betray you when they learn you ’ re just a piece of shit !
I turn my attention to the crowd and away from the condemning voice in my head . There are some pretty girls in the crowd . Across the room , in the far corner playing pool is the girl whose feet I spit at earlier . Even from as far away as I am , I can see how pretty she is . But facial beauty only hides an ugly , deceitful heart .
Eventually , they all betray , because you are just a piece of garbage .
I look at the clock . I can ’ t hold out much longer . I desperately need a distraction before the voice in my head overtakes me . My spiralling thoughts are broken by the sharp sound of smashing glass . Like a sprinter out of the starting block , I ’ m up out of my seat . I cut through the crowd quickly and approached the pool tables across the room from where the pretty girl I spat at is still playing . As I approach , I see that the giant is the cause of the broken glass . I slow down . After six years as a bouncer , I know how to approach a situation in which I ’ m outnumbered slowly to be able to quickly assess my surroundings . At least ten people are crowded around the two pool tables in the corner of the room . There are five hightop round tables littered with beer bottles , pint glasses , and plenty of shooter glasses . There ’ s a rack for holding pool cues mounted on the wall and only one remains . Hard , round balls cover the green of the pool table . Standing in the corner holding a pool cue upright against the floor like a staff , the giant smiles grimly with shards of glass spread out around his feet . It ’ s obvious that the giant smashed a shooter glass on the