Opening Day - Part 1

Dweezil walked into the bar and crossed his paws as he surveyed the scene in front of him.  Every thing was just perfect.  The mahogany  bar was polished to a high gloss.  The brass trim was shining as were the taps for the large selection of draft beer he had on hand.  The ludicrous portrait of Luella Katz was gone and in its place was a  large red and blue neon sign that spelled Dweezil's.  Two 60 flat screen TVs were broadcasting the all news and all sports channels and all the leather trimmed high backed mahogany bar stools needed were customers to sit on them.

Ten round table were placed throughout the room and each one sported a crisply ironed white tablecloth and a vase filled with local wildflowers.  The walls had been painted a deep current red and antique western art was hung at just the right level.

Trixie had outdone herself hiring absolutely perfect  kitchen staff and waitresses for the bar.  Diane Tailer had surprised him by not being the dumber than dirt tartalett he had imagined.  She was bright, highly competent and quickly turned the bar maids into a team.  She was also extremely attractive which was a definite plus in his book.  Dressed in her jeans, cowboy boots and white shirt, tastefully accessorized with silver and turquoise jewelry; she made a wonderful first impression to anyone entering the bar.

The bar maids, Daisy, Janet and Rose were the usual blend of ages, dispositions and talent that staffed most bars.  But they had one thing in common, the were highly motivated and wanted the place to succeed.  The only small thorn, was Lyla Jane Simpkins who was also not what he was expected. Instead of being hard and well used, she was very young, very sweet and not terribly bright.  But she was an extremely hard worker; and made up for her deficiencies in the smarts department with her sweet disposition and her eagerness to please.  In the two weeks the girls and the kitchen staff were in training, she very quickly became the pet of everyone who worked for him. 

So smiling, he crossed the room and opened the door.

In Which Introductions and Decisions Are Made - Part 9

"Now Mam, " Harlan wheedled, "this is a small town and word has a way of getting out."

"Don't you dare mam me," Yvette hissed, poking him in the stomach for emphasis.

"Well then Miss," Harlan began and faltered at the stink eye aimed directly at  him.  "Er Ms." he stammered. And noticing that wasn't going over either, for once was at a total loss for words. Sweating profusely, he stammered, "Well then what in blazes am I supposed to call you?  I cain't hardly call you Mr or Sir, seeing as your a lady cat, or at least I think you are."

"You will not address me at all,"  Yvette hissed.  You will keep your large mouth shut for once and listen. 

Bending down until her face was directly in front of his, "She whispered, "Do not think that I don't know who it was who felt compelled to stand up at a town hall meeting and allege that I was part of some sex trade ring.  I believe the phrase was, that as the high school guidance councilor; I would make it my job to guide the innocent kittens from the school to the bordello."  The last phrase was enunciated clearly and punctuated by several jabs to the stomach with her claws.

Harlan paled, and for a puce colored cat that was not easy to do. If he was sweating before, it was nothing compared to the river pouring down his face.

"I wanted to get my lawyer to sue you for slander.  But Sheriff Igmeuwkowski convinced me not to.  But if in some lame brain attempt to make yourself look less ant like, rumors would filter out about Ms. Tailer and Ms. Simpkins, who are trying to change their lives, I wouldn't hesitate to prosecute you to the full extent of the law.   Do I make myself clear." She demanded, poking him three or four more times just in case he had any lingering doubts about the gravity of the situation.

"Now Miss Yvette, I promise to do everything in my power to keep nasty rumors from circulating.  You can count on me," He finished with a great deal of hand wringing and sincere emotion.

"Good," she smiled sweetly. "I'm glad we understand each other.  Now I expect you to be a regular at Dweezil's and a great help to us all."

"Yes, Miss Yvette, I will Miss Yvette, like I said, Miss Yvette, you can count on me.  I will do everything I can to help you all settle in and your restaurant be the talk of the town.  In a good way, he stuttered.  I mean in a really good way."

"Well I am glad," she said helping him to his feet.  "Now tell me, is it true that you can climb up the side of a building like a bat?"

In Which Introductions and Decisions Are Made - Part 8

"Absolutely not," Dweezil thundered, smacking his paw against the metal fence for emphasis.  "I flatly refuse to allow that, that," he paused momentarily and noticed Squig frantically trying to get his attention .  He was shaking his head, pointing at Annie with one paw, while zipping his mouth with the other.  On some other day this little dance might have been amusing, but after spending three days on a train, he was not in the mood to be amused.  However, it was best not to use words like skank or whore in front of his daughter, who would have twenty million questions concerning their meaning; or his mother who would lecture  and hector him for days on his lack of tact. So, pasting a concerned look on his face he blandly said, "I would prefer we hire an experience bartender, and I don't think Ms. Tailer has the right credentials for the job."

"Oh but she does," Trixie answered back immediately.  "She's been working three days a week as a bartender in Durango and she recently received her associate's degree in hospitality at the local community college.  Her references were glowing.  I can show them to you when we get unpacked."

"I'll just bet they were," Harlan harrumphed.  I bet they were all men weren't they?

And what's going to happen when the town hears that you got one of them cat house girls working behind the bar?  Did you think about that?  How many decent folks are going to want to come then.  It won't matter how fancy the food is, no decent cat's going to want to bring his wife, daughters or girlfriend to your eatery." He nodded primly, just daring them to come up with a reply.

He didn't have to wait long because Yvette extended her claws, grabbed him by the ear and dragged him over to a bench.  She then shoved him down and standing over him, with a glare that could stop a bull in mid charge, whispered, "And just how, may I ask are they going to find out."

In Which Introductions and Decisions are Made - Part 7

Squig felt his blood run cold as he looked over at Yvette.  She was giving them all what could only be described as le eye du stinque.  He could almost hear hissing now.  "So I leave you two imbeciles alone with an innocent kitten for five minutes and what do you discuss?  Skanky women and fornication that's what you discuss.  Oh yes, you also let her know that it's possible to climb up the side of a building like a bat."

The diatribe would be accompanied with a great deal of claw poking and ear pulling.  This was going to make it impossible for him to convince Trixie that he was now a responsible adult and not the layabout slacker he'd been back east.

 This was just perfect and he only had himself to blame.  He was the guilty one, because feeling sorry for Harlan  he'd allowed him to come along to meet the gang.  And what did he get for this good deed, a claw poking, ear pulling diatribe, that's what he got.

Now Dweezil on the other hand was completely relaxed.  He was not the one who had mentioned skanky women and fornication.  He, too, had been shocked and appalled,  shocked and appalled.  He'd stress that a few times.  And while he might have mentioned crawling up the building like a bat, he'd done so as a joke, never thinking that Annabelle would think it was possible.  He'd apologize profusely and the whole nasty business would be over in a few awkward minutes.

As for Harlan, he was mesmerized by vision of loveliness standing in front of them.  Yvette was wearing a red silk sheath dress which complemented her striking tuxedo coloring,  and the fact that she was furious only added a hint of spice to her sultry good looks.  Add to this that she had somehow managed to corral several railway employees to carry all of the family's luggage, only added to her incredible mystique.  

"Miss Yvette, mam,"  he said taking off his hat and with a flourish, and then bending over, dramatically bowed down. "It is a pleasure and honor to make your acquaintance."

"Oh be quiet and stand up.  You are looking quite ridiculous bent over like that,"  she hissed and turning to Annie, said, "Now who is it, petite, who has skanky ways?"

"Diane Tailer, " she answered looking up at her,  Do you know who she is?"


"As a matter of fact, I do."  Yvette said firmly, daring any of the to say one word. "She is your father's new head bartender."

TO BE CONTINUED