Smooth jazz music played in the background of the club as Laurie stepped in from the drizzle. Dusk had settled outside and only a handful of people sat at the bar drinking in solitude. The room was dimly lit yet a quiet gloom seemed to hang in the atmosphere. Or was it her? Laurie wondered as she slipped onto a barstool at the bar, dabbing the raindrops from her face with a handkerchief.
Her day had turned out the same like the past two weeks she'd been job hunting. Promises and disappointments.
The bartender, Palmer, raised an eyebrow as he approached her. “Bad day?” She exhaled loudly and smiled. “I have just the right drink for you,” he added, pulling out an opaque bottle from the fridge behind him and placing it in front of her.
“Huh,” she said, looking at the glossy black label with bold red letters on the side of the bottle. “No Job For Bob? What kind of drink is this?”
Palmer shrugged as he wiped a glass. “A bitter herbal blend. Great for people who've had a hard day.”
Laurie uncorked and sniffed it. “Hmm, smells like raspberry and something bitter but the name is terrible.”
Palmer chuckled. “That's why people remember it.” He watched as she took a cautious sip and her eyes widened. It was painfully bitter at first but a surprising sweetness linger afterward.
“I’ve been drinking that for six months now,” said an elderly man beside her. His clothes were neat but worn and his eyes carried the exhaustion of someone who was tired of trying.
Laurie realised she wasn't alone as the four men and a lady sitting at the bar counter shared their hustle stories while sipping their drinks. It seemed the economy had convinced hardworking people they simply hadn't tried enough.
Then an idea pinged in her head and she shared it with them. Within a year, this group of strangers had started a business, pooling their skills together.
When Palmer visited their workshop with a pack of a familiar drink, they laughed, some with tears in their eyes.
I hope you enjoyed reading this short piece. It's inspired by the Freewrite #dailyprompt phrase "There's no job for Bob".
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