Four morals: A Novel

Far and away superior very close

"Prepared for another, Sheila?"

My neighbor, who's a normal here at Rusty's the place where I mix drinks, shakes her head. "You realize I never have more than two."

I gesture absently as I gather up her vacant glass. "You're correct. I'm simply asking without much forethought, I presume."

Sheila scowls, accentuating the fluffy lines around her lips. "You really do appear to be a little occupied this evening, Crystabel."

Her words pause for a minute to enroll on the grounds that, somewhere off to the side, I notice two different clients taking the vacant seats in my part of the bar. "What? Goodness, I surmise I am. Sorry."