Break
A Thursday Prompt story
© 2023 by Walter Reimer

Prompt: porter


The brew was so dark as to be almost black, topped with the merest trace of khaki foam. The taste was strong, and demanded that his sense of taste pay attention to it.

And the wolfhound did pay attention to the taste.

He savored it, taking his time about draining the pint glass.

Ears perked as the phone rang, and the bartender walked over to answer it. “Hanlon’s . . . yeah? Right, I’ll tell him.” The feline hung up the phone and called down the length of the bar, “Clancy!”

“Yeah?” the wolfhound asked.

“Back to work.”

“Ah.” The wolfhound regarded the last swallow at the bottom of his glass before drinking it down. He smacked his lips and set the empty glass down. “Put this – “

“On your tab, I know,” the feline said. “See you later.”

“Thanks.”

And, having drunk his midafternoon pint of porter, the porter put his hat back on and walked out of the pub, headed for the train station next door.



end