Jenade is a Lou-ser

HEAT

Chapter 4 - Part 2

Lou sat down at the bar in Barnhill's and ordered a beer and a dozen oysters on the half shell. He loved the idea of swallowing something still alive - besides it was happy hour - 4 beer and a dozen oysters - $14. 

Jenade was sitting further down the bar with his friends and Lou couldn't figure out who was buying but the beer was being delivered fast and furious.

The bleeding and headache incidents were increasing in intensity and frequency and Lou was beginning to think he might have to adopt a pro-active strategy to find his soul, rather than sitting back and waiting for it to make itself known to him.

Lou was working with the crews replacing the old Matlacha-Mainland bridge; basically a gopher running for water and anything else the main crews needed. He didn't know how much longer he could work there because he was too close to relieving a couple of them from the ability to breath anymore.

Jenade's friends left in a flurry of maniacal laughter and belching and then all was quiet. Lou got up from his seat and walked to where Jenade was seated and sat down. Jenade turned to look at Lou and just for a second - the briefest moment in time, Lou's eyes seems to be consumed with flames. Jenade started and then Lou put his arm around Jenade's shoulder. Jenade laughed nervously, Lou leaned back and laughed loudly. Jenade's nose exploded with a nose bleed to end all nose bleeds.

Jenade couldn't be sure - too much beer. But in the mirror, where Lou should have been reflected, all Jenade could see were flames, a fire so hot that it seemed to burn Jenade's face. 

Where Lou's arm was wrapped around Jenade's shoulder, draped over Jenade's nylon jacket, the nylon was beginning to yield and morph - it was beginning to melt.