Tired
Uninspired
I just quit my job
Before I could get fired
Just five past four now
On this scorching hot afternoon
Simply can't go home yet
Just way too soon
So a drink ... maybe
I think
To maybe help expand my horizons
That I seem to have allowed to shrink

I'm so tired
Simply uninspired
Constantly sinking into this morass Where I find I'm firmly mired
Then passing by I noticed
Just three cars
In the sports bar parking lot
What the hell!?
So I turned in
Taking a spot
Making it four
Braving the oppressive heat
As I quickly strolled the 40 feet
Before stepping through the doors
I had to grin
Realizing all the possible spin
To be made of this place
That had been named SCORES
A couple huddled in the corner
Deep in whispered conspiratorial liaison
So I left them to their Solitude
Taking a spot at the bar
Feeling that more fit my mood

As I was approaching the brink of my third drink
I pause to take a look around
Three stools down
The man seems to be determinedly bound
  To drill his glass into the bartop
As he kept spinning it round and round and round
Oblivious it appeared to me to any exterior reality
Then suddenly his eyes erupted
Free flowing tears falling Unencumbered
To splatter on the bar top
Only coming to a stop
When he raised his glass in a clenched fist
Saying "here's to you brother.... you will be missed "
Then he downed his drink
Indicating to the bar keep that he would have another
Then he turned his head my way  
Looking me straight in the eye
Simply saying "Hi"
Pausing before saying
"Sorry if I disturbed you"
I sort of shook my head  
Really ... what else could I have said
He nodded
As he pulled his vision back
Attaching it to the TV on the wall
So  before he went back inside
I spend a dimes worth of my humanity  
By saying "you ok" question/ statement
You know what I mean
Niether one nor the other (somewhere in between )
His eyes never left the TV
As this glass ...again was drilling away Really spinning
As the5 o'clock news was just beginning Finally I heard him say very very quietly "bad day "
a statement NOT a question
"Me too" I said
It was in that looming silence
That the news story caught my attention

"Earlier today police responded "said the anchor
"To what may be more heat driven tensions..as they received a man with a gun call..we have Mike Roberts with the story"

" Yes Greg . I'm still here on Columbus avenue where around noon today A man we now know was Brandon Day
Ex Marine with four tours of Iraq and Afghanistan
Came to the home of his ex wife and refusing to leave..without seeing his four year old son.
When the police arrived mr. Day refused to obey their commands
Going so far to even produce what we now know was an empty gun
But when he raised it...well here's how it all played out as the situation eroded... Let me warn you just video is quite graphic.

"PUT THE GUN DOWN AND DROP TO YOUR KNEES"

The man on the porch turn away from the door seemingly unconcerned as he advanced toward the cops

"FREEZE"

The police spokesman reports that Mr.Day died at the scene of multiple..
At this time efforts are under way to..

Next to me the man raised his class "bye bye brother " he said downing his drink as he stood
"see what I mean" he said... his face showed no hint of strain or pain
"That was....YOUR BROTHER? "
"Yeah he said" I was there to see if I could help"
  A half smile crossed his face moving like a fast cloud shadow on the ground.

"You got to admit. He really knew how to die... he just didn't know how to live"
With that he turned away and was gone.

I had myself another drink
My bad day ...He'll no.
I don't even know what to think! ***!