strange nights

Okay, so I’m going to write this once and send it several places... I had the most interesting night last night. It started with my finishing my shift at Bube’s. Mike F., the bartender for the night, was gracious enough to make me 3 well whiskey and Pepsis. Whatever. Okay, so I was feeling good to start. Then I went over to the martini bar and had 2 martinis. Now I’m beyond feeling good. Anyway, the night draws to a close, and there are only 4 people sitting at the bar at last call. It was myself, that Chrissy chick from across the street, some girl I have no name for, and this Mexican at the other end of the bar. The Mexican guy speaks up and says he’s buying a round because it’s his birthday. Now by this point, Mike had cut me off and was feeding me a pot of coffee. (Good guy, Mike.)
Well, this Mex guy needs a ride home, and I say okay because I’m feeling okay by about 2:30. He was offering $20 for a ride, and I was not saying no. That would pay my tab for the night. So I drive this guy to his little apartment, and the whole time he’s asking me to come in and have a beer with him to celebrate his 35th birthday. I figure, what the fuck. This guy hands me $40 for the ride and company by this time. I’m saying to myself, "What the fuck am I doing here."
So, he hand me a Corona and then begins telling me how he loves this country and how he just recently became a citizen. He was going to vote for the first time since moving here, and he was excited because he was voting for Kerry. Then, he tells me of his 2 children. He shows me pictures that are all over his apartment of his daughters. He then tells me how they told him that their stepfather is abusing them.
He went on about how he called an abuse hotline, and he’s afraid his ex will be pissed and not let him see his children anymore.
After that story, I asked him where he was from, and he said that he moved from Canada, but he was born in El Salvador. What I wasn’t expecting was the story about how when he was six, his parents were killed by the government. He didn’t really go into detail, but he did tell me that it was something that he will never forget.
Well, after about an hour, I started to try to get out of there. He insisted I stay for 2 more for another $20. Well, I was already there, hadn’t finished the first beer, so I said okay. I was fortunate to get out of there about 20 minutes later, and I was happy to be going since it was about 4 am.
That was insane. Gave me a lot to think about.