Page 105 of The Bartender Special

Ethan jumped.

Benny pointed, a new kind of excitement in him.

“Let’s go there!”

The kindergarten teacher’s expression went to admonishment fast. Luckily, he spotted the name before Benny could get a reprimand.

“The Drinking Spot,” he read. “Isn’t that the bar that’s competing with Cassidy’s Place?”

Benny nodded.

He might not know exactly where he stood with the bartender, but that didn’t mean Benny couldn’t stay true to his original intent.

“Want to be spies while we eat?” he asked.

Ethan flipped the blinker on.

“As long as we don’t do anything that gets us arrested, I’m in.”

* * *

Jack was staring at not one, not two, but seven boxes of tampons. Some were sporty. Some were cardboard. Super, regular, slim. One even claimed to be pocket-sized.

All were sitting on his coffee table.

Dixon was across from them, fingers steepled in front of his face, staring at the collection in deep thought.

“When I heard you walking around out here, this isn't what I expected to find.”

Jack took a seat in the armchair next to the couch. Dixon looked at him. There was a surprising amount of fire behind his eyes.

He couldn’t help asking what was wrong.

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?” He snorted. “You want to know what a goddamn travesty is? How damn expensive these things are.” Dixon picked up the box closest to him and shook it. There was a cartoon woman on the box playing soccer. It was very festive. “Guess how much just this one set me back?”

Jack opened his mouth to answer, but Dixon was on a roll.

“Damn near seven dollars! And don't even get me started on the pearl one. I close to lost it when she rang that one up.” He threw the box down. “And people need to use these every month, Jack. Every. Month. And that’s not accounting for those pad things when they don’t want to do tampons. Not to mention the overnight stuff, which I couldn’t even start to factor in. Like, how the hell do they afford it?”

He shook his head, disgusted and leaving no room for Jack to respond.

“I was going to only put a few of these out in the bathroom at the party to try and give everyone an option, but I have half a mind to throw them all in the bathroom with a sign that says, 'Take as many as you need. Sorry about America.’”

Jack waited a beat to see if his cousin was done or ready to start swinging.

It seemed safe for the moment so Jack tentatively stepped in.

“So, I take it you're still doing the tampon platter for the party.”

Dixon blew out a breath but nodded.

“I'm telling you. It's a service every bar should have.”

Jack laughed. Not at the idea, but the sheer conviction behind Dixon's words.

“I'm just hoping we have enough people at the party to appreciate the gesture,” Jack pointed out.

Dixon didn’t seem to be too worried.