A Klaus Call

Completely heartbroken and inebriated to the point of being reckless and likely to find trouble in numbers I drag my butt into Zak's (not knowing what it's called these days) which is my third or fourth bar of the night. Miserable and surly I grab a seat at the bar and too loudly tell Klaus to give me a beer. He complies as I more slurp than drink the beer while writing illegible nonsensical poetry about how I was screwed over. And Klaus finds it in himself to come and talk to me. Calms me down and finds a way of reaching me. He cuts through my pain to the very essence of my suffering and lays it all out on the bar for me. He gets me to drink water now and some coffee. Tells me where I went wrong and what an asshole I am being while also showing me the good side of who I am. He does it in such a way that all I can do is respect him even though he is exposing truths most want to stay hidden. I thank him and leave the bar feeling lighter. As I exit she is there. Emotions all jumbled and askew. I slip back into false bravado and bullshit as a carload of her friends drive by and hurl insults at me. I challenge them to fight, but she drives them off. She pleads with me to straighten up, but I find that most fridgid side of pain and walk away. And when it's all said and done and I find me again I remember Klaus. I remember him again today and I still find thanks for being led to the right door. Thanks for having wisdom beyond his years. Thanks for being human to a young man who needed to be righted. Thanks.