Gold Pile Posted December 22, 2015 Posted December 22, 2015 Old friends, a relationship that has out lasted many romantic relationships. This year's Xmas drink is our 10th annual celebration. In preparation I ate 2 bowls of ice-cream and drank some pepto bismal. I also drank a glass of rich (non-alcoholic) eggnog. Anything to protect my stomach from the liquid assault that was coming. Normally 3 of us but this time a 4th has joined us. "Rex" is a 6'2", ex con. His tattoos leave little doubt that he is a racist skinhead. Sitting next to him in "Tiny" a 300 pound ex con who hates whites as much as Rex hates blacks. Joining us is our host "Old Birch", a tough as nails old man, so tough that his 2 brutish employees would rather sit together than get beaten (again) by the old man. Birch hires ex cons because they're the most likely to get violent when he pushes them to work hard. Birch loves a good fight. There is a lump on Birch's head where someone recently clubbed him. I shudder to think what became of his assailant. Old birch, now over 100, still loves a good fight. Birch daily drinks this foul Euro-brew, absinthe mix. (you can google absinthe but that's only half of the concoction) Every Xmas he insists we join him. I used to own the business next to his. I drank my shot, It burns the mouth, throat and stomach. A few involuntary convulsions accompany my head to toe trembling. Unable to speak as I lean against the table for support. Tiny is a harder man than me, He doesn't tremble, he lets out a gasp, his eyes get very wide and instantly turn very red. Rex drinks his first shot ever, his eyes get wide, he hyperventilates and sways in his seat as he tries not to fall. Birch drinks his 2nd shot and offers to pour us another. We all make gestures of decline as we couldn't speak yet. Tiny never liked me but respects me for enduring this annual ritual. He and Rex exchange glances of mutual respect. Rex looks astounded that I (the smallest guy there) didn't pass out or die. That was over an hour ago. My voice has returned but my fingers still aren't typing very well. Merry Christmas everyone. 1
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