“Another please, Danny.”

“Alright Ben, but it’s your last drink. You know I can’t serve past two in the morning.”

The old bartender had seen Ben nearly every day for the last two years. This being the only place to catch a drink in their old sleepy Californian town, Danny tended to see the same people day in and out.

“Here you go Ben, last Rum and Coke for the night.”

“Thanks Danny.. Been another hard day for me.”

“Thinking about your wife, Stacey, again?

Ben lowered his head at his wife’s name being spoken. Really, she was his ex-wife, having lost her life in a car accident with Ben two years ago. He had been driving them home after a business dinner with some of his prospective clients, when seemingly out of nowhere a pickup truck appeared. It was a night Ben had never forgotten, will never forget. Attempting to brush the memory of the night from his mind for the moment, he lifts his head to address Danny again.

“I always am, it doesn’t stop. I am the reason someone I loved, the one person that understood me…. Is gone. My work ethic has declined over the last two years, I have no family in the state, and you might be the closest friend I have in the world.”

As Danny is listening to his patron speak, he scans the bar to confirm Ben is his last customer before turning his back to pour a glass of water for the man. He places the fresh glass of water on the bar top next to the drink Ben was nursing, and looks up to meet his eyes.

“I can’t begin to imagine what you experienced that night, or how it haunts you still Ben. You know I’m your friend, and I hope you respect the advice I’ve given you over our numerous talks. You need to forgive yourself Ben, you don’t deserve this extra punishment you’ve put on yourself.”

Danny pours himself a Coke, and walks around the bar to find a stool next to Ben.

“Stacey will always live on in your memories, but all we can do is Humans is move forward… as much as we would like to live in the past sometimes.”

“Easier said than done Danny. I will never love anything, anyone, like I did my wife. And do you know how your future looks when you don’t see love in it? Bleak.”

Silence persists between the two men as they sip from their respective drinks, each lost in their own thoughts. Danny had seen Ben deteriorate since the passing of his wife, he had seen the mental toll it had taken on a once good-natured and upbeat man. Danny had lost his wife to cancer almost a decade ago, and they had never had kids. He understood when he lost his wife the feeling that he might not love again, possibly never again have someone in his life who understands and sympathizes when he needs it.

“Woof...WOOF.” A lumbering St. Bernard appears from around the bar and approaches Danny with purpose.

“WOOF.”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“Ahh, Whiskey is telling me it’s two A.M. She’s always been able to tell time better than I could.” Danny rustles the head of his big dog, and turns back towards Ben. “Ben, I know the future doesn’t look bright right now, but you do have people that care for you. Never forget that.”

“Hey Whiskey, come here girl.” Ben calls out to the dog while appearing to ignore Danny. “Ah, that’s a good girl. Going home with Danny huh? Ahh Ill miss you, but I promise to come give you pets tomorrow.” Ben’s eyes light up just slightly as the large St. Bernard lumbered over to him and allowed him to scratch her ears.

“Whiskey’ll never say no to a little more attention, but I do need to get this place locked up and get her home.”

“Alright, alright. Thanks for listening to me for a little while tonight Danny. You’re always a good ear, even if you pour my drinks a little light.” Ben chuckles and struggles to pick himself up off of the stool he had spent the previous three hours inhabiting.

“You be careful walking home Ben, Ill save your seat for when you need an ear again.”

As Danny watches the door swing closed behind Ben, he takes a long drawn out sigh before turning back to his bar. He pushes in stools, and cleans up the glasses his customer and he had been using, all with Whiskey’s watchful eye following his every move. It was time for her to go home, and go to bed, and she was going to be an ever present reminder of that for Danny until they left.

“I see you there girl, let me just grab the keys and we will get going.” Danny smiles to himself, Whiskey was the only being, person or otherwise, that he had to listen to nowadays. He had no idea where he would be without his big lovable St. Bernard. He kneels to Whiskey’s eye level to give her a hug but is stopped staring into her eyes, and that’s when he understood what he must do for his friend, Ben.

“Wait, wait, I’m coming!” Ben groggily rubs at his eyes and approaches the knocking at his front door. He had stumbled into the house and fell into bed without changing after leaving Danny’s bar the night before, and tugging at his shirt and pants wasn’t doing anything to change the disheveled look he had about him.

“Danny! Sorry I was a little slow to the door, sleeping off your drinks from last night.” Ben opens the door to reveal Danny standing their with a wide smile, a cardboard box with holes is sitting on the porch next to him.

“Hey Ben, I am just heading out to get some supplies for the bar. But I wanted to stop by and bring you something, I...think it will help. I know it’s helped me.

Danny picks up the cardboard box and holds it in front of him, motioning for Ben to take off the lid. As the lid comes off, small high pitched excited ‘woofs’ can be heard, and a reddish orange head pops out.

“Whiskey has been my rock when I go through hard times. I have a friend whose husky just had a litter of puppies and asked me if I knew someone who could use a little extra love in their life. After our talk last night, I could think of no one better.”

Ben gently lifts the husky pup out of the box Danny was holding, allowing him to place it back down on the porch. Ben holds the puppy at eye level, watching the morning sun dance off her beautiful fur coat. Lost in his thoughts, he doesn’t see the dog’s tongue before it lashes out and assaultes his check with lick after lick.

“Amber,” Ben says, “I’ll call her Amber.” Pulling the puppy into his chest, a small tear forms and rolls down his check. He looks towards Danny and smiles.

“Well, I’m glad you’re taking to her.” Danny gives a large smile back to Ben. “Just remember Ben, when life seems to be hammering you from every direction, you have to stay focused on that silver lining, you have to keep your eyes and thoughts on the bright side of life. Hopefully little Amber here can help remind you.”

“Thank you, Danny. You’ll have to apologize to Whiskey for me, I think I’ll have to take the night off from the bar to grab the things I’ll need for Amber here.”

“The stool is always there, you take the time you need with your new buddy. I have to head off now, but I’ll be seeing you around.”

As Ben shuts the door behind Danny, he feels something in his heart for the warm furry pup in his hands he hasn’t felt for a long time, love.