Meet the Hope

<Door open; then, optionally, bar ambiances>

Well hi~, sugar!

You must be that wonderful little writer the patrons have told me all about. What a blessin' to be able to meet you!

Name's Jezabel, honey. You can call me Jez, if you like.

I already got you that cocktail you like for ya here at the bar. Hope you don't mind me reading your mind~

Just kidding! Kidding! I know you get the same thing every time you're here. Figured I'd save you the waitin'. Hope it's to your liking!

You don't mind if lil' ol' me poaches your attention tonight, do you? 

{Listener answer}

Oh wonderful! I've been so excited to meet you. Not too often we get new faces around here. And...if we do, they don't tend to stick around that long. I don't think I've seen any fresh blood in about a year!

I'm sure you've been told all about me. I give our lovely bartenders a break once a week. They deserve it! I don't think I'm as talented, but I give it the best job I can.

{Pause}

It's so nice to be able to learn about people like you. See what the bigger world outside is like through stories and pictures.

Did you go to school for writin', or did you just pursue it on your own?

{Pause for answer}

A collegiate writer, how exciting! Might I ask your alma mater?

{Pause for answer}

Wow, that's pretty far away isn't it? You've made quite the journey to make it all the way out here. 

I've pretty much lived in this lil' ol' town my whole life. I thought about tryin' to move away to go to school when I was that age, but I just couldn't bear the idea of not seeing the people here I'd known and loved for so long, y'know?

I think the fine folks here are my people. Someone's gotta take care of 'em...'specially when some of 'em can't take much good care of themselves. 

{Pause}

Well of course, sugar. You've spoken to a good number of the regulars here. You haven't noticed that they've all got some problems? Some more than others, sure, but a lot of our people tend to run...destitute. 

They won't ever admit it to themselves, but they need to come here...else they won't be able to function right. Everybody's gotta talk to somebody eventually! And I don't think they'd do it on their own...

I guess in a way I'm like a doctor! Makin' people feel better 'n such.

{Pause}

No, no...I don't ever get bored. Well, not too much. I guess it does get a bit boring hearin' the same stories outta the same people all the time. But thats what makes people like you stick out! You bring some life and change into this here little place and make it different. So it's always bound to be fun again...

That bein' said, sugar, try to not change things up too much. It feels like any time someone gets a little too crazy, something happens to 'em! Maybe it's just superstition.

Decay is a town that likes to remain the same, like it or not. I think a lotta the small villages you'll find across the country operate that way.

Even if the standards they hold onto are a bit...antiquidated. Or self-destructive, for that matter.

Change is a scary thing. Some people would rather never confront that fear by stayin' in the dark. Even when it's good for them.

{Pause}

Y'know, I think a lotta people would find that awfully pessimistic, but I think it's the opposite. There's much to learn from these sorts of broken people. We may not be able to fix what's frightened 'em, but we can understand what got them to that point and avoid it ourselves...for us, or our children. Or, maybe in your case, make somethin' beautiful out of it.

And...here at the Wretched Crow, we can at least try to keep their lives at ease and their stresses few. It's maybe not the most honest way of livin', but it's better than letting them suffer out on their own.

Mr. Fletcher will never admit it, but I think that's why he still runs this place after all these years. Even if we don't really make much money. It's the setting that's important.

These people are important to him. Important to us. It's not a good community...but it's the only community we have.

Mr. Fletcher has been around a really long time. Looks great for his age, really. I think maybe he thinks of the crowd here as his children, a little bit. Dear ol' dad, looking after them the best he can. Even if it means getting them drunk day in and out.

{Pause}

This is the only place that really makes a profit, if you can imagine it. Everything else sort of slushes around. Outside of upkeep of the bar, most of the excess money is spent on projects in the city. New homes, building repair, road paving, health coverage...Mr. Fletcher keeps things moving around here, even if he doesn't have to. 

He buys onions from Scratches, even if he doesn't eat onions! He makes sure everyone is well fed. Even if it just comes back here.

Truck drivers and passerbys seem to understand that sentiment, and tip well. You have too, darlin'~!

I think too many people think that change takes big, flashy actions. It doesn't! A good ol' fashioned quiet hospitality is all I think you need to get by.

{Pause}

The rumors about you being thirsty are true! I've still got more champagne for you in the cooler if you want it.

You'll take the rest? Sounds lovely, lovely. I'll get to work here in a moment.

Say, sugar...when exactly are you planning on leavin' our little town of Decay?

I'm just curious! We don't normally have long-term visitors. 'Specially ones that aren't family.

{Pause for answer}

Tomorrow evenin'? Well, we'll certainly miss you! It's been a lot lovelier here with faces like yours around. I hope you'd choose to visit us again once your little trip is over!

Well sure! I'd say you're welcome any time.

[Mildest sense of urgency you can muster] If you're not too busy tomorrow, maybe stop in one more time to see Mr. Fletcher. I think he'd be heartbroken if you left without saying goodbye.

[Very subtly trying to move away] I-I probably have some other guests to tend to, hun. I'll leave you with your drink, and check in on ya in a little bit. Is that okay? 

Have a good night, sugar~!

END.