by Glory Lennon

Created on: August 03, 2008   Last Updated: August 22, 2010

Derek had heard a thousand tales of woe from behind that bar and he was certain another one just slumped through the door. The relatively young man, brushing snow off his hair and shoulders, wore a hang-dog face which spoke volumes without him uttering a word. The man took a seat at the end of the bar and clasped his hands in front of his face closing his eyes as if he were in agony. Derek knew that feeling well and he was forcefully reminded simultaneously of a George Straight done-me-wrong country song and of George Bailey from that ancient Jimmy Stewart movie.

He recalled watching that movie every single year with his Ruby. It was almost exactly like the scene when George was praying at the bar. Luckily, this bar was pretty much deserted and the man wouldn't get clocked by some angry guy. But Derek had the distinct impression, watching this sad looking man, that he might have to pull a "Clarence" before the night was through. Always up for some unpaid work as a guardian angel, he braced himself and did a little praying of his own.

"Help me out here, Lord. This man looks like he could use our help," he silently muttered.

Derek allowed the man a few moments to do his contemplation before he slowly approached him with his typical kindly smile. "Good evening, what can I do for you, fella?" Derek said brightly.

The man looked up and didn't even attempt to smile back. "Gimme whatever, I don't care. Hate drinking."

"So do I," Derek replied adamantly. "Give me a glass of milk any day before I take to drinking this poison." He then proceeded to pour them both a tall glass of milk and pulled out a colorful metal tin which contained an assortment of misshaped cookies elaborately decorated with sprinkles and icing. He pushed the tin toward him and placed the glass of milk on a napkin right beside it. "They may not look like much but they are delicious. My grandkids made them for me."

The man watched in disbelief and ran a shaky hand through his slightly damp hair. He gave Derek a wry sort of grin which looked more like a painful grimace and said, "Funny attitude to have when you run a bar, isn't it? Must lose you some customers."

Derek grinned broadly. He had hoped he'd say that. "I don't know about that. But, you see, I had sort of a drinking problem back a few years when I suffered a great loss but I don't suppose you want to be hearing an old man's troubles, now, do you?"he said genially.

"To tell the truth, I'll listen to anything right now just so I can get out

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