Bad Moon, Good Dreams and the Summers End Pt.2: The Hurricane

As I spent my last money, on gasoline, (three 5 gallon cans) I hoped that CK’s generator would start and work as well as mine did. So I asked my brother did he start his generator, he said “RJ don’t worry ‘bout it…I can start it”.

After paying me some money he owed me I wasn’t so broke anymore. It was Saturday night, August 27^th about 8:00. The wind and rain from Hurricane Irene was on its way bringing tornadoes along with wind driven rain and flooding.

The house was stocked with water and all emergency precautions, first aid and other setups had been taken care of. I was awake all night, CK was sound asleep and didn’t wake up until late Sunday morning. Although brown outs did occur briefly several times during the night, the power stayed on. By Sunday afternoon the worst of the Storm had passed when I got a call from Yaega that the bar was open but they had no lights.

I asked her what Poppy was doing to get her some electricity or ice to run the bar, Yaega said, “I haven’t seen him and he won’t return my calls”. I said ‘good luck’ and got off the phone. Later Sunday night I did venture out to visit Yaega and see how she was holding up. Cops, LIPA trucks and Tree Service crews were on the main roads and up some secondary roads dealing with downed trees and darkened neighborhoods. Arriving at the ‘Game’ was eerie.

Pitch darkness pierced by my headlights revealed Slim with a few of his lady friends in the back smoking. As I went in, Yaega was lugging the last bags of ice and putting them in coolers, I knew I wasn’t staying long because I knew I could watch football at home…we had lights and cable. Bossman (Deli Owner) and his cadre of gaming buddies were in the bar with a radio and a few decks of cards (storm entertainment huh?). Everybody was kind of on edge.

I at first thought it was the black out in the neighborhood. It was dark on Merrick Rd. from the car dealership across from the Veterinarian all the way to Central. But there was another kind of uneasiness, like a conspiracy of silence…which could only mean something had happened, but what? As Bossman dealt the cards, I asked Yaega why did portions of the bar smell like simple green and pine sol? “Shut up and relax” said a stressed Yaega as she poured my beer.

“I was relaxed until I got in here” I then noticed the electric candles all over the place and other battery operated devices that where putting out light in various intensities. Mr. Clean discussed hanging a light over the pool table so the patrons could at least entertain themselves but Yaega argued with her man (Mr. Clean) about that. “It’s not like I’m gonna put flaming candles over the pool table woman” said Mr. Clean as Bossman and the bar burst out laughing.

I asked Mr. Clean “what the fuck is going on”. “A candle in the ladies room got a little too hot and set it on fire, thank goodness Bossman was quick with the fire extinguisher” then Mr. Clean looked at Yaega who’s eyes were bugging out as she was jury rigging the cash register to open up since there was no electricity. Someone asked Yaega if she had permission to do that, she said, “I’ll do what the fuck I have to…shut your face and drink or get the hell out.”

I finished my beer, admiring the lights and the weird reflections in the mirrors, I left. Promising Yaega I might be back on Monday if the lights were on. I did come back Monday Night to a near empty establishment. Yaega still was pissed even though the lights were on, Yaega did cheer up because I had a traveling companion with me, Candy.

The Monday after the Hurricane was no less tense than the day of the Hurricane. Candy came over because she had no electricity to charge her essential items and she needed to do things to keep herself ready and able to work. I told her my house was her house, we spent the afternoon together although it was all work and no play. Afterward we visited Yaega. Yaega filled me in on what happened after I left Sunday night.

Yaega took a shot and said, “This place was packed from 10 o’clock on. People who didn’t come in peeked in to see what’s up. The Police asked Slim, who happened to be here, to lift the piece of sheet rock off the drain so the water wouldn’t continue to flood the basement at the pool hall next door. That place is a mess…anyway someone walking by saw me slapping on the register and decided to call the Cops who came back and walked in the bar.”

My eyes were wide open listening for the rest of this story, Yaega continued, “There were two cops the big one said, ‘we got a report of a robbery and drug use in this bar and were here to check it out’. I told the Cops, there is no robbery, I’m the bartender, the register has to be opened manually and I don’t tolerate anything going on in her but drinking. I pointed to the liquor license, and told the Cops this is the way we have to work in a blackout. I invited them to stay for a drink or two and keep us company when they got off duty.”

I asked, “what did they say to that?” Yaega said, “they looked at each other and the big one said, ‘lets go…she’s (Yaega) in charge’”. I looked at Slim who testified to the place ‘being a zoo’ after midnight. As the bar filled up Candy had to get back to her house, I asked if she needed me to go with her and she said, “Love you did enough today, I’ll see you later. I’ll call when I get home.” I stuck around till the end of the football game then gazed at the fire damage in the ladies room.

Two clean cut guys walked in the bar dressed in comfortable clothes all wide eyed and a little suspect of their environment. Yaega smiled, and said, “Glad to see you came back, what can I get you…” I looked at Slim who mouthed ‘POLICE’. It was time for me to go anyway and I needed to blog some of this minus the other tensions and intrigue involving other patrons who were doing their own weirdness at the bar.

Funny how disaster brings people together to engage in more disaster.

RJ