BigSaltyDog

The All-Night Bender After watching Ingrid disappear into the hot African night with the bartender, Large Lad sat slumped on his stool, fuming and sweating under the whirring ceiling fan. The bar was quiet, reggae humming from the battered old speakers, but Large Lad wasn’t ready to go back to his budget guesthouse and mouldy pillow just yet. He slammed his fist down on the counter. “Another drink!” he barked at the young assistant barman who had been wiping tables in silence all evening. “What you want, boss?” the assistant asked warily. “Everything.” And so it began. First came the tequila shots , lined up like soldiers ready for war. Large Lad downed them in quick succession, each one burning his throat and lighting a fire in his bloated belly. Next came the local beers , ice-cold and crisp, served in heavy brown bottles. He guzzled them, belching so loudly the few remaining patrons glanced over with disgust. “Play some music!” he shouted. The assistant barman fumbled with t...