[1980] Thomas Manning, his hands stuck in his jacket pocket sports went into a steady rhythm on the pavement, here and there gawking fascinating. Nineteen years had passed since he had walked these streets, and everything seemed a little 'off-line for him, if not down right peculiar.
This Midwestern city of about 250,000 inhabitants, when young, had ventured around him, everything about the city center, along the cliff dwellings, which in parallel to the shore ofMississippi River, the road was now certain of Wabasha had no large buildings around that time almost thirty years, only a few restaurants, one was that his grandfather had owned for several years, exactly where he was now, and just a few blocks west was the residential area, well I mean, it used to be around, was no longer: everything had changed. It 'been especially hard-working people to take that time with his grandfather, a butcher him only a few shopshis restaurant. The bar on the corner was still there, noted that mucky old bar, which left all the buildings, was the only permanent structure of thirty years, a survivor of a time, it was actually built during the Second World War II. Most everything else was in the past that fancy new building had been left there, lurking a couple of homeless Skid Row, for example, still trying to maintain balance, he noted. It 'was a dirt road at night in the backDays, and a lot of Irish people and Polish in the city were in this part of the city.
He, Thomas Manning, looked at his watch in the window of the bar. It was morning, it seemed that the clock 11.40. Not much going on for a bar at this moment, he thought, because he spent his days as a quarter of his life lived in them, but that was long ago.
He was a karate expert, then, the army and lives in New Orleans over the past seven years, and those days of old-style crept back, as he himselflurking around, aimlessly, in a nostalgic kind of mood. But he had to go straight home to his mother and then was in New Orleans, where he now lives his head. In all his travels, perhaps several times around the world, especially while in the Army, St. Paul, Minnesota, always clean, conservative city that he loved was back.
He had many memories, good memories of his youth here. He could not believe that now is the absence of life of the city, downtown in particular and the enormousBuildings in the city instead of the old architecture and significant. It was quite a disappointment for him. A lot of degradation of many of the buildings as if they had started to renovate the city and then stopped abruptly and let it burn through the renunciation of it. The residential part of town was completely gone in this city.
For the most part: Thomas Manning had a wonderful sense of belonging that is why the army has remained for eleven of the 19 yearshad disappeared. He stopped fully belongs to the property for rent in New Orleans in recent years. In addition to its object, has written several books and has been a journalist for a magazine.
It seems that Mr. Thomas Manning was a good balance for a man, that is, do not drink to excess [still not], and from time to time had a cigar. He compensated for his temperament and that has to manage a couple of years after its drinking water, which means it couldcrazy, but he had learned a wick time now, and has been in karate, where he learned discipline, especially for a man 36 years. He does not jump to conclusions, for the most part, and kept his head, both in business or a fight. And visited the church on Sunday and also some work on the side of the church, if possible. Oh yes, he was able to bodily fluids to be on time, and presented on its books. And it is a good prospect for humanity in general, was, in other words, his philosophy is simple: to liveand let live. He did not believe in luck, it was from work, commitment and confidence in himself that he has bought to the table to bring happiness or misery.
But in this late fall day morning Thomas Manning was snoopy. He walked up and down this old road, a few miles from the Capitol, and again I have pointed out, was where his grandfather was his restaurant [about 25 years ago] now was obviously gone, and a long five-story building covers area. And the butcher, which are used in twoShops down from the restaurant or maybe three, well, that was also consumed by the building. And the local pub had a new name on it, "Murphy," added he could not remember the old name, could not even know if they really never went there during his youth to drink the possibility that he may have, I mean who did most of the bar before or after in St. Paul.
In the course again, looked at the clock behind the bar again to find, read: 11.55 clock. It 'been a long counter and behind thebar in this area was the bartender, looked pretty close. The lights were dark, and the coolness of the bar smelled like him, his smell, smells like a stinking of beer, alcohol, like mold. The door was open, allowing the wind, even though it was a hot day or cold day, it was a snap to it, a warm breeze, as if the summer to stay indoors and was fighting for its life evaporate, and so gradually the change of seasons.
He was working on a book of poetry in thisThe time that passed, the flow of emotions. He had stopped drinking many years ago, and was curious about certain behaviors and forgot his days drunk, and I do not remember the old unwanted behavior. Or maybe he can be tried to see if he wanted a drink, or was still a possibility, he lacked the environment. All-in-all, he stared long and hard in the bar scene, in order to capture the attention of many loyalists in the bar, did not seem to drunksInterest in him, she just looked at him as he would a fly on the wall, then stared at the bartender.
Yes, oh yes, that was his old behavior, she said, looking and check, and circumspection. He was able to identify with her. At times he had spent many times, now the hour in this position, sitting, standing and staring at the walls, drink, smoke, watch, watch but do not, then the clock. It 'been a cycle, if you want.
There were plenty of tables, but they were allempty, came to the door-way, and the humidity at the bar, and then a little 'more and a little' more, then his heart would say.
When Thomas pace a bit 'in a semi-circle [in the mainstream of the bar], near the center of the floor bar that is, the door opened to its range of back-opening the meantime, the eyes of the bartender, as noted golf balls noting his movements, his hands in his pockets and shook his head as if he had received hiswrong side; angry with him and maybe life in general.
Henry, the bartender did not know this man from Adam, and a closer look, leaned over the bar a little ', it was decided that a stranger had never seen the bar, a character can groped him and annoying just to annoy their customers. "Yaw," he muttered out loud, but not strong enough to understand what his temperament, so that the problem was about to be.
"Get out of here unknown, if you want a drink, Imeans drinking a real man, "Henry shouted, thinking that it was a wise-guy in any way.
He added,
Can "I know your kind, and want to get this and that, you use it, spitting on the wall, hold the nose in the air, I think, we are rats and go home. Found the bar is in the yaw wrong?"
Thomas did not respond, without saying anything, was taken away in balance, you might say stunned, not expecting such bad manners. His eyebrows went on, was not in a bar for a long periodTime, every kind of bar, rose solidly in a particular way in a sense, as if to say: What are they saying that province. But he did not say a word, was stunned by. While still in the stone, breathing, his body a little 'drive, started the host, hard at him as if he were hyperventilating, Manning thought: He must have taken the wrong side of the bed, or perhaps the wife interrupted him, you know not everything until something is done.
The number of men inbars were already walking toward Manning, as if a signal is received from the bartender, or somebody had to do to get one even went so far out of the way to close the door and then turn it off. This is a type, when Thomas woke up, only to discover something that was surrounded by men, like a horseshoe, and the bar was open space, an entrance into the circle, the only such reception hall, which leads to Henry barista behind the counter. Henry was a bottle of vodka is the root of the plays as ifto grab for a weapon, if necessary, and two of the seven men who had pool sticks in their hands, like to hit around the top of the stick on the palm of the other hand, was a nervous sort of news they know that Thomas knew that he was as bad as it is, and that he had seen it coming, but it was so long ago that he kept for himself in trouble wherever he went he found. He knew, or thought the sticks would do, could some terrible losses, they should do it for him, and he shouldtoo much to resist, where the figure had to use them, so maybe it would have a lot of blows, only to fight a little 'back, because there was no way out. His fear was, if it launches, would not stop, and that would have resulted in the use of these weapons.
Henry interrupted,
"It should be left as they always had good stranger!"
"Seriously," said Thomas.
"Wise Guy, haw ..." He cleared his throat.
Thomas Manning attracted everyone's attention andall the people around him, their vulnerable areas, such as: legs open, chest open, unguarded face, arms loose or unstable, so that the slots per millisecond, and he was always very uncomfortable with their shark as faces. It was old in good shape for 36 years, and knew that two men could be faster, and perhaps another if it did so in a sweep complete system, so a couple of off when its time was ripe for the moment, but all seven and the bartender, wouldrun to the door, after putting two or three, if he could, but he heard the door lock is closed, and maybe not going to make it out the door in time and that certainly sticks in the battle to come: Once saw a man hit with them in a bar, and they are evil, that alters the face of rapidly once hit by these weapons. Talking his way out of this was pointless, so he concluded, these sharks were hungry now, and wanted the despised due to start their game, the fightGame, and if you make three or four men themselves, knowing that one is protected from the others, all in some way to get brave, but most are cowards.
The fat man led Thomas and Thomas dropped the man closest to the open circle on the right side, there was a powerful thrust, he thought, but kept his balance and ran to tall, thin old man, the need was in his late 50s, the fat man in his late 40s. Both had tight muscles, your hands often, workers in the work, hard drinkers, vandals.The fat man came out of the circle and push back Thomas as a sort of foot-ball with both hands close together, hit again and again, Thomas has left his entire upper body exposed, when pushed to use his upper body, and once again fell into large, thin mans forearms in the process of his observations. The big man pushed him back into the center of the circle again, with a kick in the back, lower back, not a football power, the boy did not knowhow to enter, although he might think he knew, Thomas was on the football itself, would have broken his back, or if you would have kicked himself a little low 'and pushed up, he would not go for a week, One way or another, and if he kicked, he broke his ribs on the side.
This went on for about five minutes, until someone said,
"You're about to jump or fight like a fucking man?" A boy was about 19 years, saidold should not even have been thought to bar the Thames, just a smaller guy trying to show that the fat man was shorter, but not often, not thin, and more drunk than the rest of the crowd.
"Come on coach, get with the show!" He said, then tried to throw a coup against him, but he lost his balance, and then somehow he was directed inside the shoe for not embarrassed. Henry was with his hands on his chin on the bar as a thinker,
"And I thought you hadsome nerves, if you are a man of the bar must come as a man not to fight like a girl, a chicken, "and laughed and laughed like a frog ..
He's a little 'more, and then again a kick from fat pushed, and when the fat man pushed his chest, wrapped her hands around a good wallop Thomas, Thomas moved to the side of his fist, and the man fat with all his weight fell almost to his knees, then, when it returns to an upright position, he got his eyes again realignedThomas, his eyes wide open like melons, went for a second shot, and the thin man grabbed Thomas' arms, and as he entered the open area of St. Thomas, said Thomas guarding her lower left of anything, and jumped a little to create 'a bit of force' more at football, and kicked in the groin a Whopper, and the fat man went to the ground with tears in his eyes and neck pain, was in pain server, could not even talk, could barely speak, was in such aa lot of pain.
Thomas turned and grabbed her thin shoulders of man, and with the strength of a bull, his face went thin man in the face, breaking his nose and snorting eyes. The thin man put his hand over his face, slips on his face folds like an envelope, as the blood spurted out and out the nose like a volcano, but tries his finger, so he influenced a little ', his feelings of Again, dashed into the horseshoe of a circle. The young man quicklythe action of thinking of his youth was on his side, and Thomas put two fingers of his right hand in his and pulled two orbits eyeballs slightly over the edge of the eyelid, at the same time, struck him with his right hand left hand on the nose, pressure causes the forehead, as if hit by a bullet, and the eye, both eyes fell out of their holes at once, while he was suspended, went into a state of shock, held his hands did not know what do. Another man came forward,and he took his thumb and pushed up tight and hard under his arm and tried to pierce the lung that was on the ground.
Thomas Manning, then something that should not have done, he took his eyes from other men, Henry approaches the bar with the vodka bottle in his hand in his face. When Thomas took the bottle from my hand, someone on the upper back and hit the back of his head, and he was stunned, and when he fell to the ground, covered his face, and did notchoice but to absorb the blows with his feet. The broken ribs, one, two, three, and you could shoot the nose and crash of sound.
There was a noise at the door,
"Bring it back guys and move them to the trash, I'll get to the door," said Henry tried to catch his breath, was all of 260 pounds and about six feet high. Thomas was 180 pounds and about five feet nine inches tall.
Thomas Manning now lay face down in the back ally with the garbage. If nothing else, thatknocked at the door, was just in time, have certainly had the pool to use sticks to knock on the door occurred, it would be too tempting to use them at the height of the battle, especially after all three men at table , or was it four, maybe five men [?], can also mean breaking the arm of one of the boys, I felt something shatter a big jump. However, Thomas was also in poor condition with broken three ribs and nose, andBags all over the body. She felt like she was beaten with a tire iron.
A voice said to Thomas, a blur shadows at the back door, seemed to Henry:
"When you get up," the voice said, "and from there, not always, if you want more of what you just want to come."
His voice was harsh and unforgiving, as the voice of a king. His opponents did not come out looking for him, obviously still cared, even the damage they had done.
He heard the sound of aAmbulances arrive, they must keep the child must be considered. Then when he arrived, someone said,
"Ah, it seems, saw a man on earth is in bad shape."
This was unfortunate for Henry, but remained in the bar and said nothing while he was in the same ambulance, the boy-inch and two boys have their own car to the hospital carrying a person who was out of breath, all but Henry and two others were poor condition.
"You need to arrest these men," gasped Manningthe investigating officer in the hospital. But as the officer asked the other men, always a different story, but the same story from everyone but Thomas, Thomas began to look more guilty by the minute and was subsequently imprisoned along with two men have broken ribs and a broken nose he had taken. The boy was left at the hospital, so to speak, out of breath, and another man was found later with a broken arm out of the fray, as has been framed by all the cash involved, butThomas, Henry was in the hospital, to add his testimony to the relationship. In fact, he was given a complaint to report that he [has to Thomas Manning] was a karate expert, after discovering that he knew it and so took advantage of the situation, that is, until Henry to the rescue of its customers is came to the bar, and then a big thank you from the owner.
Therefore, they are all waiting for three days in jail in downtown St. Paul and the others cameto the bar to discuss the situation in hand, should come to the trial date as soon as possible.
Thomas Manning was particularly oppressed, and angry during his stay in prison but gave him time to think and to regain his composure on the pitch to win. He also had local news on TV, basically says: it was the cause of problems with the bar "Murphy" at the bottom Wabasha Street, and luckily the bartender came to save customers, for fear that they would all end in the hospital. His motherOf course it was a bit 'disturbed by all the fame and Manning, wanted it to be over.
And so the day was short, and the prosecutor stood up and took the court case, the court Rosenboum and Thomas, an old friend, Mr. Dudley for his lawyer had heard of it, stood up and began the legal proceedings.
For the most part was his word, Thomas' against all the others, the judges and see broken ribs on both sides of the case and broken noses, as well asManning and realization of not paying taxes and elections in Minnesota were coming soon, made his declaration, he said,
"In all honesty, Manning has not been proven, but say they were abused, exploited. But in a bar, a drunk, which you say are the reason I ask, in a bar, and a fighter and a skilled fighter in the sense that it is hard to believe that they were not looking for trouble, and it was good: only four men to watch. Type "
The show was not to his advantage, but also showed some war wounds, but the judge noted that there is no sympathy for someone in the face.
Before he could say another word, the judge gave him a hard stare, he added:
"Do not say a word Manning, not a word ..." and then the case is dismissed no one to blame both sides equally, also
"You stay out of bars at best, as you say, you have, and I do not want any of you see the people back here, andFarmington is closed Henry, bartender! "He said he has meant to the next case.
Poetic justice
"Life goes on," Thomas whispered, looking back the whole experience. Perhaps this might be a good lesson that he said, and a story for his grandchildren, to be something that could laugh at his age, he thought, adds his thoughts: Let it rest for you to rest, be, and then took a train to return to New Orleans. His mother had once said that if hebut it has been eight years in a similar struggle when he hit home run of five boys was:
"The next time you run faster, or learn to better control ..." and so got both, but they forgot to tell him. "Stay out of the bar" He already knew that you are looking for does not care, it's coming your way, no matter what he had learned long ago, and seemed to learn was tough, that he be retrained, the judge had noted .
-It 's been a busy morning in the springSince 1982, two years had passed, or so, because the event had taken over the bar in St. Paul. He, Thomas, was in his basement wine cellar inventory inspection of his bar, double-checking what he had taken one of his employees (bartenders). He owned a hotel and downstairs there was a bar and restaurant, along with several other properties in New Orleans, which he owned. The count is in connection with the bottles of wine were correct, he left the basement and went upstairs, where he went to the doorHallway near the bathroom.
As he walked through the door, he is a return of a family man, a delicate profile, or came into view, as you could see, but not quite complete, has held a key to one of his rooms at the hotel, saw her logo on it, apparently it was a pleasure. I repeat, was its emblem on it somehow, the coat of arms at the disco, that is. When the man sitting at the bar and began his drink was finished his profile look more clearly,Thomas could not believe his eyes, was Henry, Henry Farmington, the same as the one and only Henry "bar Murphy. Play games like Destiny's poetic, if not poetic justice. He quickly grabbed the phone next to the room men and called the bartender and pointed him in any way, then, signaled the bartender's assistant at the front door lock, Henry will see the busboy unkempt back of him, or activities. At the same time, the youngasked a patron to leave, I'm not sure how to say it, but it was in a calm manner and he must leave. Then came the music through the speaker, Manning had told the waitress to make sure it was loud in the bar.
Now Thomas Manning walked slowly behind the bar as a bartender went in the opposite direction, to collect the other men at the bar and started a horseshoe around the back of Henry, to make this point, is not paid for its environment . Then, ascare in thought for a moment and looked at the mahogany bar, he saw Thomas, opened the eyes of the surprisingly large, stopped a moment to gather his faith, thought to be the new bartender, were face to face between now the only bars. Henry put his hand, his right hand as if to say, peace,
"What a surprise, Manning," he said, adding, in a choked voice, but did not notice the men behind him again: "Oh yes, we're all a bunch on this dayWe hope that there are no hard feelings, by the way, where's your head? "
"I own the place," he said with a smile and then added: "Henry come, never mess, just them, but I think today is my lucky day .. you get the number that you must not come in mainly in the bar looking for trouble. "
"But ..." Never had time for this phrase, or the second word, it would always end, because Manning was hit so hardtion in the face and his nose, busted lip, two teeth out of place with a crack on its first two knuckles of his right hand, flew off the stool right side started in a horseshoe on the back, and boots for men, ribs routes, you could hear them shooting: one, two, three, and his nose was carried out by a kick. A man grabbed a stick pool, but Manning told him to put him down, it was not necessary, but he said to Henry, who led him to waste in the pit areaRear of the building,
"If you come back, I'm not so friendly, and leave the pool sticks are used."
Henry could not speak, he just gasped and shuddered, shook his head, as if to say: "Yes, yes, I understand." He did not want what was served at Murphy's for sure.
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