Chapter 3

Wednesday, Aug. 15th

The week passed quickly for Sarah. Between starting her new job and unpacking, sorting and setting up her new small but comfy apartment, time flew by. The job she started on Wednesday night, which she thought would be nice and slow, being a mid-week night and all. It should have given her time to grow acclimated to her job. However, Syracuse treated Wednesday night as a Humpday should be treated - in celebration that the week was past half over.

The bar was packed, and even with the other bartender working tandem she racked over a hundred dollars in tips that night, far more than she had expected. She handled herself well, if she could say so herself. No spills, and no unhappy customers.

The waitresses that only worked Wednesdays thru Saturday were too busy for her to really meet, but she met and instantly liked one of the short order clerks. A young man by the name of Tom Houghtalin, he was of poor background but happy personality. He hit on her, of course, and she politely set him down. He took it in stride, and offered her to join him for a joint at break, which she declined.

She saw Mr. Partridge a few times during the night. He always smiled at her in a way that left her a little uneasy, but she returned the smile each time anyway.

After last call, she helped get the place in order and left, Tom insisting that he walk her to her car. They chatted along the way, and as they reached her car, Sarah asked Tom where he was parked.

"Don't have a car; I walk home," he replied unreservedly.

"Well, get in - I'll give you a ride," Sarah responded.

He climbed in the passenger side and they were off. He gave her directions as they rode, and complimented her on her taste in music that was coming from her radio. She held back the distaste of the neighborhood that Tom lived in, and the ratty house his apartment was in.

Tom made sure she knew how to get back to familiar surroundings and, as he got out of her car, he put a joint between his lips.

Home a short time later herself, Sarah locked the door behind her and dropped her keys on the kitchen counter. The place was a disjointed mess, and with a sigh, Sarah dove into her work.