Read Online Isobel and Emile by Alan Reed - Free Book Online Page A

the bar. Nicolas takes the money. He puts it in the cash register behind the bar. She takes the glass of beer. She walks away from the bar.
    Emile sits at the bar. He sits with his hands in his lap. Nicolas comes over to him. Nicolas says: ‘Is it over already?’
    Nicolas could not go to the theatre because he is working at the bar.
    Emile says: ‘Probably not.’
    Nicolas frowns. He says: ‘How did it go?’
    Emile shrugs. He says: ‘It was good.’
    Nicolas makes a gin and tonic for Emile. He puts it on the bar. It is in front of Emile. Emile reaches to take some money out of his pocket. Nicolas moves his hand to say that he does not have to.
    Emile puts his hands on the bar. He moves the gin and tonic closer to him. He smiles at Nicolas.
    Nicolas waits for him to say more. Emile looks into his drink.
    Nicolas says: ‘Come on. Say something, Emile.’
    Emile picks up his glass. He takes a drink. He puts the glass down again.
    He shrugs.
    He says: ‘I do not know what to say.’
    Emile picks up his glass. There is ice in it. He taps the side of the glass. The ice settles. It makes a sound when it does.
    Emile taps the glass again. The ice does not settle. There is no sound. He wanted there to be a sound. He is slumped at the bar. There are not many people in the bar. They are in small groups. They drink. They talk to each other. It is a quiet night.
    Emile wanted something to happen at the theatre. He does not know what.
    There is a jukebox in the bar. It is playing a song. Emile drinks from his glass. He puts the glass down on the bar. He looks into the glass.
    Nicolas does not say anything. He stands with his elbows resting on the bar. He waits.
    Emile says: ‘I think it was good.’ He says: ‘I think that they liked it.’
    The song that is playing on the jukebox is a nice song. It is a song that Emile and Nicolas like. Emile does not say anything more. Nicolas does not say anything.
    They listen to the song.
    Emile finishes his drink. Nicolas makes him another gin and tonic. The song finishes playing. Another song starts. It is not as nice as the other song.
    Nicolas takes some coins out of his apron. He gives them to Emile. He says: ‘Go do something about the music.’
    Emile stands up. He walks over to the jukebox. He has the coins from Nicolas in his hand. He puts them into the jukebox. He picks some songs to play.
    He goes back to the bar.
    There is someone talking to Nicolas. He is drunk. His words are slurred. He is trying to explain something. It is hard to understand what he is saying. Nicolas looks over to Emile. Nicolas shrugs. He is the bartender. There are things he has to do.
    Emile nods his head. He sits down at the bar. His glass is in front of him. There is a drop of water forming on the side of his glass. He picks the glass up. He drinks.
    The song that was playing on the jukebox stops playing. It is over. Another song starts to play.
    Nicolas listens to the man try to explain something. It has something to do with his business. Emile takes a drink from his glass.
    It is late at night. There are still not many people in the bar. Some of the tables are empty. Two of the waitresses are standing at the end of the bar. They are talking to each other.
    Emile puts his glass down on the bar. He looks at it.
    The man talking to Nicolas finishes trying to explain something. He stands up.He says good night to Nicolas. Then he says good night to anyone else who might hear him say good night. He reaches for his jacket. It is lying on one of the stools at the bar. He puts his jacket on.
    It is time for the bar to close.
    Emile stands up. He puts his jacket and his cap on. He goes outside.
    He stands in the street outside the bar. He takes some tobacco out of his pocket. He makes a cigarette. He does not light it.
    He waits for Nicolas.
    There are people who were inside the bar standing outside the bar. They are waiting for streetcars and taxi cabs to