Chasing Camelot

The swirling white sea mist 'neath the street lights made the outline of Hemingway's Cafe all the more welcoming to John. As he reached the yellow lights of the front windows, the ghosts of the past stepped back into the darkness. There was a nice crowd at the bar and his gang roaring at the antics of his friend  Ajdin. He was showing his bare butt and the mark left by the dart Patty accidently stuck in him.

Ajdin

'I never even got shot in Bosnia. I come to America, play darts with friends, get stuck in butt. Is tradition in Ameria?'

Ajdin sees John and they man-hug.

John

'I'd ask how you've been..but...'

Ajdin s.hows his butt

'Not even in Bosnia'

Patty is laughing uncontrolably.

John hugs her with Ajdin.

John laughs

'Maybe we should switch to billards...'

Patty

'Maybe you just want to see my butt, bent over a pool table.'

John points first at her and then at his head.

'You're not wrong...but you aren't right.'

Ajdin

'What?'

Patty

'Not wrong that he wants to see my butt but I'm crazy...not right in the head.'

Ajdin

'Funny huh?'

John

'It would be funny if you had beers in your hands.'

John goes to the bar to get some beers. John returns and hands Ajdin and Patty beers.

Patty

'Ajdin ....Merlin here and I were talking about Camelot Sir Arthur.' 

John

'God, I remember playing that.'

John clicks their beer bottles.

'For the love of Camelot...'

Ajdin

'Yeah, it was fun until there was lot's of love in Camelot.'

Ajdin gestures at John and Patty.

Patty

'Well, what's a girl in Camelot to do. Kiss a dragon?'

John

'Speaking of which. I ran into Ali on the way here...'

Patty

'Still hating on you.'

John

'Her and her gang...although her gang are off to college. I don't know what I ever did to her...She made fun of me being a writer.'

Patty

'She's jealous. You still let people bother you. You really can't.'

'Oh my God. Do you remember when they played that old movie Camelot on the beach...*laughs*..and just when Lancealot...I think...doesn't matter is singing on that big screen 'never will I leave you'...the whole screen leaves...blows over a few people and blows down the beach....'

John laugh

'I hooked it into the poles right...we did right Ajid?'

Ajid

'Oh why ask me...why not point at the immigrant like the audience did? Hey, and where did you two disappear to?'

John

'Chasing Camelot...that screen took off like a sail until it hit the Funtown pier.'

Patty

'Chasing Camelot. That's your story.'

John

'No. Right now it's a tale of two Bernies...two guys named Bernie who hate each other and keep taking each other's people, accounts. It's hate fueled success...'

John looks at Patty...her pretty blonde hair catching the light from the Tiffany style lamps. And Ajdin...who himself is goodlooking but some-what colorless, really white skin, black hair, gray shirt, black t-shirt underneath and black pants. He's all skinny muscle who's always really there for friends John remembers.

John
'It's good to be with friends. I've made good friends in New York City too.'

Patty

'Don't want to move there?'

John

'Seaside Heights is a world away from the pressure...good place to think while I surf or whatever.'

Patty

'I like California. Love being a Nurse...miss you guys though. It's nice to be able to clear your mind on the beach. But I miss you. You both.'

Patty grabs the back of John's neck.

Patty

'Do you remember the time Ajdin saw someone was gonna slug you in the face and he put his face in the way. And the bully punched him in the face instead. Those kinds of friends who are really there for you..I miss that.'

John

'I still can't believe you did that.'

Ajdin points to his chest.

'I can't believe I did that.'

Ajdin

'Well, Sir Arthur, that round table over there by the window is free. Let's grab it.'

The friends sit down-warmed by memories and each other's acceptance.

The ghostly, white sea mist whirled outside...Camelot.