How about a Side of Whooping Cough with That?

It was a brisk fall day.  Perfect for a trip to the tractor store, the bank and Menards.  Since we went rural, errands require a bit more travel.  The Handsome One was at large so he came along for the ride, promising to buy me lunch.

Every item on my to-do list checked off, we headed into town (till we went rural we never used expressions like go "into town") and stopped at one of our favorite restaurants.  It's a quaint place with dark paneled walls,  a well worn long metal foot rest bolted to the bar, a rough wood floor and behind the bar a large number of hooks holding mugs marked with numbers drawn on the bottom- for the regulars.

There were no other customers in the joint.  We sat a table and began to study the craft beer selections written on a chalk board attached to the wall.  I picked out an IPA, THO picked out a dark something or other.  We ordered some food and settled in for a relaxing lunch.

A couple with two small children appeared.  For some unfathomable reason, out of the some ten empty tables available, they chose the one right next to ours.  "How are you?" we heard the waitress ask them.  "We're having lunch in a bar," said the woman.  "That tells you what kind of day we're having."

The younger child was strapped into a high chair.  Periodically she would wave at me and squeal, "hi!"  My firm policy is that one "hi" is enough.  This didn't stop her from continuing to greet me.  The other child was a few years older.  He fingered an electronic gadget and declared repeatedly that he wanted "a big sandwich".

Both youngsters coughed frequently and at times, violently.  The adults ordered drinks containing vodka for them, apple juice for the children.  The woman told the waitress that the boy wasn't in school because he has strep throat.

It's hard to enjoy your meal when you are certain that there is bacteria laden spittle floating around.  Well.  The nachos were good.  Heavy on the jalapenos.  I hear jalapenos have anti bacterial qualities.