"Why do we have to go?" asked Abby as Rusty was
pulling his belt on.
"Dad is having his poker game and I need to bartend."
"That sucks," pouted Abby. "Hey, I'm pouting over here! Take notice!"
"Baby, I would love to, believe me," said Rusty
longingly as he buttoned his shirt. "But I can't."
"Aw, that really bites."
"I know, I know," he said as he kissed Abby on
the top of the head. "Now get dressed, we have to go."
"Fine," she said slightly fumed as she pulled
on her clothes.
Back at The Grind, Lonnie Desouza was entering
the back room for a poker game with Rusty Hammer, Sr., Max Blowers and Julio Ospina.
All of the middle-aged men sat down at the table and waited for their host to arrive.
Eventually, a flustered Rusty, Jr. showed up with an equally flustered looking Abby.
"Sorry we took so long, Dad," said Rusty, breathing
heavily. "We just, uh, kind of, well, we..."
"Were screwing out there, we heard you yelling,
it's okay. These walls are thin and the bar isn't that far away," said Lonnie
as simply as he was telling the daily forecast.
"Alright now, son, go get us some whiskey," said
Rusty, Sr., trying to get rid of the tension in the room.
"Alright, come on Abby," said Rusty tugging her
out of the room.
Once outside of the room, Abby told Rusty what
she thought of the people in the back room.
"I don't like that Desouza guy! Everyone in there is a mobster except for your dad! Are you
crazy letting them in here?"
"Abby, there's something you should know," he
took in a deep breath. "You're wrong."
"So, you're telling me those guys aren't mobsters,
they were just set-up?"
"No, I'm saying that everyone in there is
a mobster."
"Your father's a criminal!"
"Shh," Rusty hushed Abby. "They'll hear you. Dad didn't do porn, he was a hitman. It's just funny that our name's Hammer because everyone called him the Hammer even
before they knew his last name."
"Yeah, that's really funny," said Abby
turning away.
"I'm sorry," said Rusty softly putting a hand on her shoulder. Changing
the subject, he said, "let's go get them their whiskey."