"Dean Wesley Smith - Jukebox Gifts" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith Dean Wesley)

"It's been a good year," I said, "especially with friends like you. That's
why I've decided to give each of you a really special present."

"Oh, to hell with the present," Jess said. "How about another drink? I've
got a wife to face and knowing her, she ain't going to be happy that I'm
not home yet."

"Is she ever happy?" David asked.

Jess nodded slowly. "And I wonder why I drink." He slid his glass down
the bar at me as he always did at least once a night. I caught it and tipped
it upside down in the dirty glass rack.

"I'll fix everyone a last Christmas drink as you open the first part of your
presents." I reached into the drawer under the cash register and pulled out
four small packages. Each was the size of a ring box wrapped in red paper
and tied with a green ribbon.

"Awful little," Fred said as I slid one in front of each man and then put
four special Christmas glasses up on the mat over the ice. I'd had the
name of each man embossed on the glass.

"You know what they say about small packages," Jess said, twisting the
package first one way, then the other while inspecting it. "But knowing
Radley, the size will be a good indication."

"You just wait," I said.

"Great glasses," David said, noticing them for the first time. "They part
of the present?"

"Part of the evening," I said. I let each man inspect his own empty glass
before I filled it. The names were etched in gold leaf over the logo of the
Garden Lounge. I'd had them done to remember the night. I hoped I
would have more than a few glasses left when it was all over.

Carl was the first to get his present unwrapped. "You were right, Jess.
It's a quarter." He held it up for everyone to see. "Looks like old Radley
here is giving us a clue that we should tip more."

I laughed as I filled his glass with ice. "No. It's a trip, not a tip." I
finished his drink and slid it in front of him. "Since you unwrapped yours
so fast, you get to go first." I nodded at the jukebox. "But there are rules."

"There seem to be a lot of rules around here tonight," Fred said.
Everyone laughed.

I held up a hand for them to stop. "Trust me. This will be a special
night."