Sunday Night – Prelude to Disaster

Sunday Night – Prelude to Disaster

Yaega Lee worked Sunday day as usual and had the Jets crowd sitting in a nasty bar while she served drinks and attempted to clean at the same time.  

This wasn’t working well and was driving her crazy.  Even though the turnout during the day was good, the bar, which usually has a nice vibe, now had the aura of any filthy dive bar.  The bartender (Yaega) was not happy. Neither was the crowd watching the Jets loose miserably at home.

I showed up in the middle of the Giants game, most of the regulars were in attendance losing their minds in disbelief as the Giants nearly lost a roller coaster game with the Dallas Cowboys.  The crowd was elated at the win and everybody was having a pleasant Sunday evening even though the apprehension around the coming storm was on everybody’s mind.

Then the news came out that Far Rockaway, Long Beach and other coastal areas had to be evacuated.  Many patrons could not get back to Far Rockaway and many did not know the evacuation order had been given.  Hurricane Sandy was on the way.

As the sun went down and gave way to evening.  The regulars started to leave and a night crowd came out.  Ruby was working the night shift and all was going well.  JayMac and Sheeka hung around and talked about the Halloween party on Saturday Night.  Most of the conversation centered around the bartender who was, in their words, ‘selective on who got good service’ during the evening.

The Rockaway crowd came in despite storm warnings and evacuation orders along with the Joey Barr (Batman from the Halloween Party) and the Boss at the Pool Hall next door, things were going good as Ruby shut it down around 2:00 am.  

But something in the ‘mojo’ Candy put out on Friday showed up Sunday night.  When Ruby tried to shut the back door, it creaked and then I heard a pop.  The back door had pulled out from the door frame. 

Upon investigation I noticed the screws were removed from the door hinges.

It didn’t take a Genius to realize that this major malfunction had a whole lot of help.  Ruby called the emergency number for Poppy J at 2:30 am.  I vowed to stay with her until he showed up.  

I helped her call several numbers including Yaega Lee at 2:30 am, who said that Poppy would answer his wife’s phone. 

Three of us stayed with Ruby as Ruby and myself made phone calls to Poppy every 15 minutes.  I bought White Castle for everybody but Ruby said she would rather eat a cadaver than White Castle hamburgers.

It was now 5:00 am and I got a phone call from my brother who had been forced to evacuate his home in Far Rockaway at midnight.  He had no money and needed help to buy gas.  

I had to leave Ruby but Mr. Smurf stayed with her.  Poppy showed up around 8:30 am.  

Ruby had found another phone number for Poppy and left angry messages for Poppy until he did show up.  

The suggestion that Ruby use her car to push the door shut didn’t make her any sweeter.

Poppy shut that door Monday morning.  It is Friday after the Hurricane Sandy disaster, that door hasn’t been open since.  No one has heard when the bar will open again.  The status of Krizz’ee’s Halloween Party is uncertain to me. 

While all of Long Islands citizens fight each other over dwindling gas supplies and people stand in line for mass transit that cannot move the masses I can be thankful that Hurricane Sandy didn’t do me much harm.  I pray as much for all of you in the blogisphere.

Hope to see you all whenever.

RJ