So I met up with Semi-Charmed Kat at the Saucer tonight. We sat in the couch area (actually, the two wing-back chairs next to the couch) in the indoor section, for those of you familiar with the Saucer.
About 20 minutes after we sat down, our entertainment arrived, sitting on the loveseat across from us. It was a 50ish man, dressed very professionally in a blazer and button-up shirt. Or, at least he would have portrayed a professional image had he not had about 10 drinks too many. He brought a bum in with him. Professional Man held a gift bag containing his evening’s shopping; Bum held a garbage bag containing his life’s possessions. Amazingly, management didn’t throw the bum out.
Professional Man bought Bum a beer. Now, I’ll admit, I’ve bought a bum a beer downtown before. Not very often, but I have. But, when I have, I’ve bought the bum the cheapest damn beer I could find. Professional Man bought his bum a Chimay. That’s an $11 beer.
Also, when I buy a bum a beer, I hand it to him and gesture that it’s time for him to go – far, far away. Professional Man, on the other hand, sat on the couch with Bum and they drank their Chimays and Professional Man talked and whenever he wanted to emphasize a point, he touched Bum lovingly on the arm. I’m not kidding, there was some genuine affection there. The kind of affection that comes to the surface after 10+ beers.
Shortly thereafter, they left. Together. I’m guessing Professional Man got him some bum lovin’ tonight. And when I say “bum lovin’,” I mean “bum” in both the American and the British sense of the word.