The Drought Has Ended

gavin cardigan limped into the pub and hollered out, "set me up with a cold one, danny!"

"welcome back, cardigan!" sierra charles waved.

"here you go, buddy." danny blake handed him a pint of Bass Ale. "how 'bout some lentil salad to go with that?"

cardigan momentarily placed the cold beer glass against his forehead. "perfect, danny. and a hunk of burkie's latest bread, if you've got it." taking a small sip, he trudged his way over to join the others. "what's everyone been up to this summer?"

"sweating," groaned Mysterious Lurker, her bright red hair in a ponytail.

"reading," marian elfman explained, holding up a copy of Ender's Game.

"dancing," taylor young explained as he moved his stool over to make room for gavin, knocking a fork to the floor in the process.

"dancing?"

marian snickered. "he's trying to improve his coordination, so he's taking ballet lessons."

"it's good exercise," taylor insisted, "and improves your concentration."

"tucker's been writing a bunch of new songs, haven't you, hon?" linda nulo smiled over at the gangly guitar player.

tucker grinned and began strumming.

i've been counting down the days
looking forward to the night
when i walk into the pub
to find what's wrong has been set right
burkie left us floundrin'
but he's found his muse again
let's pray he ain't distracted
by the news in michigan
burkie's back,
we're all here!
eat a bite
and drink a beer!
taylor's chomping at the bit,
wonder who's next to be bit?
burkie's back,
burkie's front!
will he pass
or will he punt?
will he kill off the black darter?
will we meet sierra's daughter?

gavin turned to stare at sierra. "you had a daughter?!"

"no! i am not pregnant and never was!" sierra looked indignant. "tucker, don't encourage burkie like that, please!"

danny placed some lentil salad in front of cardigan. "what's happening in michigan that would distract burkie?"

marian looked excited. "maybe we're in michigan! go blue!"

tucker looked sheepish. "uh, no, sorry. it's the only rhyme i could think of to go with 'muse again.'"

"how about 'lose a can?'" offered taylor.

"goose toucan?" marian suggested.

"news of kin? Hugh's caftan? noose a friend?" the Lurker was twisting a lock of her now golden hair around her finger, trying out sounds.

"boozenin'," asserted the newcomer, walking up to join them.

"boozenin'?" gavin looked doubtful.

"yeah, like, to go out drinking & boozen, or boozenin'."

"that's not a word!" marian stomped her foot, glaring at him. "and who are you, anyway?"

"well, 'liquefaction' isn't a word either, but that didn't stop lord byron from using it in a poem. it's called artistic license." he extended his hand. "my name is Geoffrey Pompousass."

"of course it is," gavin said dryly, ignoring the proffered hand and concentrating on his salad. "this stuff is great, danny!"

"actually, liquefaction is a word," sierra pointed out to him, "meaning the act or process of liquefying or making liquid."

"and it was robert herrick, not lord byron, who used it in a poem," marian pointed out. she narrowed her eyes at him and folded her arms, "why are you here, anyway?"

"i'm the new busboy," he said, taking an empty glass and plate off the table, seemingly unfazed by the exposure of his stunning intellectual shortcomings.

the Lurker turn around toward danny, unsure whether to cheer or cry. "what happened to buddy lee, danny? not that i miss the creepy little guy."

danny shook his head. "that actress, lucy liu, came in here one day and they just just hit it off. he left with her and i haven't seen him since. damn shame, too. he was the best employee i ever had."

tucker began strumming again.

you could hold him in your hand
but he could hold his own
when it came to dames
or building homes
from selling jeans
to kicking gnomes
give it up for buddy lee
(give it up for buddy lee)

his plastic eyes
would never blink
he'd stare you down
from the kitchen sink
his head was bald
but his head could think
give it up for buddy lee
(give it up for buddy lee)

all he left behind
was a flannel shirt
hanging in the closet
of his denim yurt
who'd have ever guessed
he was such a flirt?
give it up for buddy lee
(give it up for buddy lee)