The Beer Run

It was in my second apartment living independently with Cerebral Palsy. I wanted to have a beer before hitting the sack. My tricycle is wet and heavy much like my mood. The 24/7 supermarket is just down the street. After a light drizzle, the fresh sent of Jasmine is a strong sign of good things to come. Sound between dry and wet patches of pavement caught my attention. In the distance and through the breeze, I hear a guy screaming unmentionable obscenities to his woman as the baby cries in the background. I ride past the house from where the noise was coming. On this creaky and wet tricycle, late at night, it felt good to be free and content.

I get to the store but it is closed for maintenance. Pissed-off and determined to have a beer, I head toward the "Quick Stop" convenience store where I use to live two miles away. I arrive and can almost taste the beer. Still walking at the time, I ditch the bike and fling the door open and make a beeline to the freezer in my strange fashion. With my good hand I grab a Heineken, wallet clenched between teeth. Given the manager / clerk is fat and ugly with seven teeth left, I figured to be in safe territory. I lay the beer on the counter and spit out the wallet. This may have been the first mistake. She informed me she could not sell me the beer. Confused and embarrassed of the slobber now on her once clean counter top, I use my fist to open the wallet to show her my ID and cash. With a grimace I ask why,... "I have ID?" She informs me "Alcohol will mess with your medication". Widely I grin, mesmerized by the mole on her third chin. We had never had the pleasure of meeting. "Give me the beer. I don't take medication!" I bark. She reminded me she didn't have to sell me anything for any reason -- "Go or I'll call the cops." I could not help but repeat words from the "wise" I had heard just earlier.

On the way home I see my petty nature. Is this retribution for the unrelenting desire of beer brings. A disability? ...so I deserve to always get my way? ...Or was this just the random linch-pin in life everyone must cross? NO BEER!!! The sweet smell of jasmine fucks with my head, forcing me to remember all the things I gave up on in life. Its a toss-up... take a deep breath or to be angry. I couldn't decide. At least if I were a wife-beater I'd probably have beer in the fridge. Striped of my god given right to buy alcohol, at least I had freedom to rant and rave freakishly on a tricycle in the middle of night and yell like a disappointed child. I had a mature idea! Give the bitch a beer!!!

Next day, and late in the afternoon, I get back on my bike. There is a sleeping pit-bull chained to a tree in front of the "house of horror" I past the night before. All is quiet. I peddle toward my friendly supermarket and its open for business! With a Heineken 6-pack now in hand, I head toward "Quick Stop" in chance of the same manager being there from the night before. She was there!! I gave her a beer.... but in the least expected way.

I see the mammal through the door window. I twist to grab a beer only to hear... "DON'T BE BREAKING NO BEER BOTTLE ON MY FRONT STEP! HEAR ME BOY?" Just then, a delicate flower appears, gentle as the breeze and warm like the sun. She is stunning, not pretentious in any way. The Love inside her sparkles through her face! From the driver's side of a red convertible Mercedes Benz, she flows out in her summer dress and flip-flops. She approaches me... this strange disabled creature on the front step of a convenience store reaching for a beer. "May I help you?" the young lady asks in her curious and gentle manner. I had no shoes on. I managed not to say anything perverted. "Give the manager a beer. Last night she wouldn't sell me one". Instantly she understood my devious intent through my slurred speech. She smiles and without hesitation pulls a beer from the carton. She flings the glass door open with vengeance! Through the glass I watch the beautiful girl say something and gently tilt my beer onto it's base toward the speechless pig.

-- contrast between wet and dry pavement is good!