Rain Falls on an Emptying Bar
Outside, the rain has just begun to fall in earnest. In an uneven lot beyond the storefront window, a few older and many newer cars are parked as close to the building as possible. The window stretches from the floor to the hastily painted ceiling. Judging by its appearance. it is cleaned often enough but likely not recently. Some water has pooled on the dirty concrete directly in front of the bar. The incandescent light of a parking lot lamppost is reflected hazily in the puddle, its image lightly disturbed by rain blown into the shelter. The patronage of the bar tends to dwindle around this time of the evening, with only the older drinkers lingering around to converse. A few younger customers trickle in and back out again. Without warning, the lights flicker. Seconds later, they flicker again, this time staying dead as the bar fades to darkness. The soft music that had moments before thickened the air abruptly falls ...