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 Possessed by this feeling, he aimlessly steered the T-bird back to where Brian had been known and loved. The old gang had sent cards regularly to the hospital during his two-and-a-half months wait for a suitable donor heart. He had also discovered that more than twenty pints of blood had been donated by these “Pub Rats” for his upcoming transplant surgery, even though the odds had been against finding a donor organ in time. Yep, this is where he wanted to be. This would be his coming out party! Brian just hoped that nobody dwelled on memories of Jeanne, as thoughts of her and loss of her were not what he needed or wanted to dwell on right now.

               Brian took a deep breath and walked through the door. It was a dream. It was as if the entire 10PM-to-closing crowd had all shown up! They were sitting on the same stools at the bar as he had pictured in the long months of absence. Brian made my usual bow, with a verbal ta-da, and the room grew silent, for just a second. The hush seemed to last forever.  Brian had always liked being the center of attention, and he surely was at this moment!  The applause and the yells that broke the silence were warm and genuine. Many disbelieved their eyes when they saw the tan, fit figure before them. JK came over and started babbling verses from Shakespeare’s,  As You Like It:

… And we will nothing waste till you return. I thank ye, and be blessed for your good comfort!