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Ava shook her head as they all sat on the metallic, round bar stools at the diner’s bar. Barney took a seat in between Ava and Benjamin when he realized that they were both avoiding sitting close together.
“You know what I feel like doing right now?” Barney asked.
“What?” Benjamin wondered.
He tapped the counter with his hands and smirked. “I feel like spinning around on this stool, swinging my arms and yelling out ‘drinks on me!’”
The two laughed.
“I’d look away and act like I don’t know you,” Ava giggled.
“I second that,” Benjamin said, looking over his uncle’s shoulder until his eyes met Ava.
“Why not?” Uncle Barney let out a mock gasp and looked at the two, moving his head as if on some rotating mechanism. “I can’t believe you two would deny ‘ol’ Uncle Barney his only wish.”
“Only wish? I’m sure you will find another the moment we walk out of this place.”
“Besides,” Ava chipped in, her soft voice drawing the attention of both men, “I don’t think this stool spins.”
“Indeed, it doesn’t,” Benjamin agreed. They all laughed.
As bizarre as it was, Benjamin ordered fries for everybody and drinks. When they came, Barney scrutinized his choices. He shrugged when he saw Benjamin sip on a diet beer, but when his eyes caught the non-alcoholic drink Ava had ordered he shook his head in disapproval and signaled the waiter.
“We need whiskey here…” Barney muttered.
“No, I’m good with this. I have never tried whiskey before,” Ava protested but he’d have none of it. Benjamin leaned on the counter and shrugged when Ava looked at him, as if to say, “I’ll drink it for you if you don’t like it.”
“Nobody is getting hammered here, but I want you to at least taste a real American whiskey.” Uncle Barney laughed and directed his gaze to Benjamin. “Ain’t that right, boy? You should at least make your wife taste something patriotic once in a while.”
Benjamin opened his mouth, almost correcting his uncle about the wife stuff but held himself back at the last minute. “She’s her own person, I don’t think I can nor should make her do anything.”
Ava seemed to beam at his response. “I agree with him,” she said but Uncle Barney ignored them both.
“At least you kids can give it a taste.” Barney signaled the waiter and held up one finger, “One Kentucky bourbon please.”
He sparkled when his bourbon was brought out and positioned the glass in the middle of the group. “Tonight,” he said cheerfully, his eyes bright, “we taste ‘Merica.”
Ava and Benjamin just stared at him, chuckling.
“That was a toast, you two. Don’t leave me hanging, dammit.”
“Alright, alright,” Ava said grabbing the glass of bourbon. She took a whiff and instantly grimaced. “It smells so strong.”
“Mh-mmm.” Baney nodded satisfied.
“That’s the smell of ‘Merica,” Benjamin mumbled, leaning over to her.
Barney didn’t get that he was imitating him. “Dang right. Try it already.”
She exhaled. “Alright, it’s just one sip, right? How bad can it be?”
Barney and Benjamin stifled laughs and exchanged knowing glances.
One, two, three, Ava counted in her mind and took a big sip from the glass. She winced and shut her eyes tight as the liquid burned down her throat. She gulped, then opened her mouth and exhaled. “Smooth as silk,” she coughed.
“Yeah!” Uncle Barney shouted excitedly.
“Cool it, Uncle Barney, there are other people around here,” Benjamin cautioned, looking around the place. But no one seemed to care.
