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The Bartender at the End of the Universe
Ch 277: It Just Takes One Sip

Ch 277: It Just Takes One Sip

Harold slumped down into a hard wooden chair and let out a stressful sigh.

A moment later a mug slid across the table and settled in front of him. Harold looked up, and there was Ted.

"Rough day?" Ted asked.

Harold watched Ted carefully. "You could say that."

Ted smiled. "Well then, a drink is just what you need."

"A drink?" Harold asked. "I mean, I have been working hard...but no, I'm not a drunk."

Ted laughed. "Drinking doesn't make you an alcoholic. Not even drinking every day would do that."

Harold grabbed the mug, and swirled it around. "Really now? What would make you a drunk then if not drinking all the time?"

"Well, they say it's money." Ted explained.

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"Money?"

"Yep, you're a drunk when you're poor, but a connoisseur when you're rich!" Ted joked.

Harold looked at Ted blankly. Ted turned to the side, and Og'drimun peaked out from behind a wooden beam and gave him a thumbs up.

"Ah, well I mean," Ted stumbled a little over his words. He thought that might help break the ice, but it felt more awkward than ever now.

But, he had to try. He couldn't just ignore someone that was stuck here too. They were going to be around each other, so he didn't want to just ignore him.

Ted closed his eyes and his thoughts turned back to his uncle.

"Uh...is that a common thing you do? You see, I'm actually a very busy man." Harold lied. "So much work, and so much paperwork especially."

Ted grabbed a chair and brought it up to the table. He sat down, and put both of his hands down on the table.

"I actually remember what my Uncle said about what makes someone an alcoholic." Ted explained. "He told me, 'Nephew, I've been told An alcoholic is someone whose life is ruined by alcohol. Someone who can't control when they drink. Can't refuse them, but no, that's not it.' "

"Hmm?" Harold nodded. "Okay then. What did he think an alcoholic was?"

"Well, it's not that he said they're completely wrong, but to hear him describe it, 'an alcoholic needs alcoholic like a fish needs water. They need it like a person needs air. You can go a bit without food, but an alcoholic? No, every moment they don't have alcohol, they're dying. Quickly too.' " Ted explained. "So, seems you're not even close to being an alcoholic to me."

Harold nodded. "I suppose that makes sense."

There was a loud laugh from the other table. Abraham was laughing as Sid just shook his head.

"I'm glad." Ted admitted. "I'm not actually great at remembering what my Uncle has told me all that often."

His uncle's words may stick out better in his mind, but Ted was never sure. What if he was missing some great pearl of wisdom? What if he had forgotten something truly important?

"Well, I don't think I can argue with that, so bottoms up I suppose." Harold raised his drink and nodded towards Ted before he took a solid drink.