Letter from Dublin. Drinking at night

By Pantelis Goularas

(The bar - from Wikipedia)

     “Lacryma Christi guys. Jesus tears. This is the best wine in the world”

     The few customers in the Bar, those who insist, to drink late at night, turn their heads to see, who was speaking.

     The Bar “DiBango” is probably the only Bar in our small town, that remains open late night, till the first morning sun-ray. The man who spoke, was the owner, mostly known, as Billy the Bartender.

     He poured some wine into his glass, and in the customers' glasses as well, he raised his glass up, and he wished “cheers” to everybody. Without saying any other word, he continued his regular duties behind the bar.

     Billy was a tall handsome man. He had not even a sample of hair on his head, but in contrast he had a long black beard, with some white hair, here and there, like the very first winter snow.

     He doesn't wear a special suit or uniform for his job, but all the people know, that his Bar is the cleanest in the town and he is the best bartender in the county.

     He came back from Athens a few hours ago. He had participated in the Authentic Marathon and he had run all the forty two something kilometers, from the beginning till the end, and he was very happy about it. That is the reason he wanted to offer that glass of wine, to all of his customers.

     Although he is a Marathon man, the only one in our small town, he never stops drinking, wine, beer or whiskey, all the time. He never says no, if a customer suggests to offer him a drink, and he always takes the opportunity to celebrate a moment, offering free drinks to the customers.

     He opened the Bar, almost twenty years ago, when he was young, but now, he is in his mid forties. He chose the name “DiBango”, because he was a great admirer of the African music and the African singers, especially of the Cameroonian musician Manu Dibango.

     He usually doesn't speak too much and his smile is very dear. But when he happens to see his two kids, his face becomes bright and happy. It isn't the same when he sees his ex-wife following them. Rumors of the town say, that he had a very happy marriage, a very happy family and it was a big surprise that it ended with a divorce.

     Working at night, means, that you can meet and serve, any kind of people, good or bad. But drinking at night, gives you the chance to meet and study characters, like Billy, our Bartender.

     Σημείωση: Η παραπάνω ιστορία γράφτηκε στα πλαίσια άσκησης στο τμήμα Creative Writing του Dun Laoghaire Institute of Further Education. Κάθε ομοιότητα με υπαρκτά πρόσωπα είναι συμπτωματική και δεν ανταποκρίνεται στην πραγματικότητα. Η ιστορία δεν θα δημοσιευτεί σε ελληνική μετάφραση.