FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

These stories are mine and mine alone. The persons and animals are totally thought up by me.

Of course having said that, some of you may start avoiding me.

If you are under age or are offended by humans and animals doing it.

Go Away!

4:

A month later Tom sat with Sadie at his feet in the 'Warp Drive Inn". It was 9:00 and the gas station owner had closed up for the night. Being it was a Tuesday, the place was sparsely populated. Tom wasn't worried none, just last weekend he saw cars and pick ups lining the streets and there was even a few vehicles parked out back in the big open field behind the bar. Alan the bar owner sat across the table from his fellow business owner . "I think that "Under New Management" banner helps a lot in getting folks to stop in." Alan said as he kept his eye on the bar, making sure no one was wanting a refill. "I think I might make a go of it after all." Tom nodded as he still marveled at all the old sci-fi movie posters the bar owner had plastered over the walls. Glancing up he spotted the newest addition to the bar's motif. The old mirror ball had been replaced with a really nice looking flying saucer. Looked good enough to have been a movie prop in one of those old 'B' movies. It even had lights that blinked in a pattern around the outside rim. "I have a friend back on Indiana that has a sheet metal shop, I had him make that for me." Alan said with a touch of pride in his voice when he saw his friend looking up. The two entrepreneurs had become friends, not 'bosom buddies', but had struck up a friendship of two businessmen alone at a lonely Texas crossroads. Tom would come over to Alan's bar for lunch from time to time to have a cheese burger, 'Intergalactic Road kill w/cheese', or a 'Flying Saucer on a bun', Fried Baloney sandwich. Alan followed Tom's wishes to not give treats to Sadie. 'Bassets can get overweight really easy.' Tom explained. But the bar owner still slipped the cute hound a 'Jupiter fry' every once in a while. "Say, you know anybody that can do 'short order' cooking? Last weekend really run me ragged trying to tend bar and cook at the same time." Alan ask, hopefully. "Well there's Jenny." Tom answered after the usual delay. "She's the last person that tried to make a go of it in that old dinner across the road... She had good food, but there just wasn't enough business... She's got a part time job at a Denny's, I think." Alan nodded and ask if Tom know how to get a hold of her. "I sure could use someone Fridays and Saturday nights." The barkeep stood up and went over to tend bar. Opening the desired beers he dropped the empties in the big trash can at the end of the bar. Staying long enough to chat a bit with his customers, Alan returned to his seat at the table. "Oh say.. I found the old draft beer taps down in the basement. I'm thinking of trying to get them working again... I love good draft beer." Alan explained. "It looks like the coolers were at one time behind the 'back bar' with the lines just coming though the wall on either side of the mirror." Tom glanced at the bar. "Yes sir, I remember when they were there... I think Bill took 'em out... Said it was too much work to keep washing the beer mugs." Alan gave a little snort.. "Well.. I wonder what happened to the coolers and all the mugs?" "Probably sold 'em... It's a wonder he didn't sell that bar. I bet it's worth a pretty penny." Tom looked the bar over. Again Alan tended bar. Nodding to one of the patrons, he went behind the back bar to the kitchen. After a few minuets he came back out and place the required condiments in front of the man he nodded to. Going back to the kitchen, there was sound of something sizzling on the grill. It stopped and the barman swung around the corner carrying a plate with a 'Flying Saucer on a bun' and a handful of chips. Placing the order on the bar, Alan made sure the man was satisfied with the offered food, before returning to the table. Tom drained the last of his beer.. "Want another?" Alan asked. "Naw.." the Texan drew.. "You've shown me a lot of hospitality here, not charging for half of my lunches I had here.." Alan cut him off with a chuckle.. "Hehe.. I was using you as a Guinean pig for a lot of those times." "Well none the less... You've been a hell of a lot better neighbor then Bill ever was." Tom pointed out. "As I was about to say, how about coming out to the ranch this Sunday, I'll cook us up some real Texas Bar-B-Que." Alan's face broke into a smile.. "That sounds really good.. Would it be ok if I brought Alexis with me?" Alan looked hopefully at the Texan. "Sure, I'll bet she'll have a grand ol' time running around the place." Tom replied. The sound of screeching semi-truck tires sliding across the dry asphalt spilt the night air. And before that sound had died away, there was the sound of crushing metal. With a chorus of, "Oh Shit!" the bar emptied out onto the street. Alan ran over the bar and grabbed the cordless phone, figuring he'd need it. Tom was the last to exit the bar with Sadie on her lead. The dozen or so bar patrons were blinking at the weird sight that greeted them. One of those 'low-boy' semi trailers, the ones with too many wheels to count, was sitting crossways in the middle of the intersection. It's tractor jackknifed around and a pick up partially wedged under the front bumper. But strangest of all was a huge 'earthmover' tire that had broke the hold down chains, and slid off the trailer. It was a good eight feet high lying on it's side, no telling how big it would have been standing upright. Jason, a volunteer EMT, sprinted to the pick up. Alan dialed 911 and waited for the operator to pick up. "What's your emergency?" a lady's voice asked? "There's been an accident.." Alan tried to think what information he needed to give. "A semi and a pick up truck.. At state route 80 and FM 3357.. by Tom Wilson's gas station..." As bar owner was talking he was walking towards the EMT. Jason pulled his head out of the pick up's window and spun around. "Is that Beth? Let me talk to her." and took the offered phone from Alan. "Beth?.. Jason. We're going to need the squad out here and the rescue unit too. We're going to need the 'can opener' to get this guy out." Jason listened for a moment. "He's alive, don't look too bad but he's jammed in really tight." Handing the phone back he said, "Stay on the line with Beth in case she needs more information." Then looking around at his fellow bar patrons he shouted. "Somebody check the semi driver and the rest look around to see if anyone was thrown out." The little pager on Jason's belt started giving out loud tones and then Beth's voice could be heard giving our location and needs. Alan kept his ear to the phone as some men started to follow Jason's orders. One guy tried the drivers side door but the cab had buckled a bit. From the other side of the tractor cab came a stream of colorful cussing. "You ok?" someone asked the driver. "Yea, but that dumb son of a bitch in that pick up won't be when I get through with him!" the driver roared. The barkeep was impressed when Jason snapped back at him. "Look, just shut up, sit down and wait to talk to the cops." The driver looked around and saw that several of the 'locals' were ready to back this guy up. So he sat on the now empty low-boy. After checking on the pick up driver again, Jason walked over to the semi driver. "Look, I'm an EMT, I'm just trying to help.. are you sure you're ok?" He could tell the adrenaline was wearing off cause the driver was looking a little pale. "Huh.. Oh yea.. just a bit shaky.. He's not dead is he?... That pick up driver?" Jason took his little penlight and flashed in the guys eyes. Seeing no major problems, he said. "No..he's alive.. his banged up pretty good, he's really wedged in there." Seeing emergency lights coming from two different direction, Alan figured everyone knew where to find the accident. He told Beth, "Help was on the way." and hung up the phone. Stepping back inside the bar, Alan found Tom sitting with Sadie. "Holding down the fort I see." he told his friend. "Well I don't think any of the local would touch any thing, I mostly wanted to keep Sadie from under foot... She's a walking 'trip hazarded'". "If you don't mind, could you watch the place for a few more minutes? I want to go check on Alexis." Alan asked his friend while looking at the door to the upper level. "Sure, take your time. She's probably got a groove wore in the floor." said Tom. Alan opened the door to see his Great Dane standing at the top of the steps, behind the 'kid's gate' he had put up so she wouldn't be running up and down the steps all day. Reaching the top Alan took his girl in his arms to comfort her. "It's all right, there's nothing that's going to get you." He cooed to her. Alan spent better part of ten minutes with her. "Look I really have to get back down stairs.. I'll be back up just as soon as I can." Alan's heart tore a bit as he listened to Alexis whining her loss to his receding back. After closing the door the bar keeper turned to his friend again. "Thanks, I think she's ok now." "You want me to stick around a little longer?" Tom asked, looking at a worried friend. "No.. You and Sadie go on home." Tom got up and looked down at his hound. Giving a soft tug on her lead Tom said."Okies.. Come on girl.. I'll see you tomorrow... Hopefully they'll have that mess cleared out by then." Alan walked over to the door with Tom, just in time to get nearly run over by 'Radar Ron'. "You got a phone I can use? My cell is pretty choppy out here." The bar keep pulled the cordless out of his pocket and handed to the Sheriff's deputy. After punching in a few numbers he waited... "Ralph?.. Yea.. You want to get that big tow truck you're so proud of and get over to Wilson's gas station... If you got two, bring 'em both... Yea it's that big... Oh and also have Jim bring that roll-off of his, there's a pick up that's not going to roll much. Oh and hurry it up will you? They may need you to pick up this semi to get a guy out from under it." It was quite the show, guys in those yellow 'turn out' coats with the reflective strips swarming around the pick up. Closer in was the circle of EMT blue shirts. All totaled there was six fire trucks, one squad, three Sheriff cars, one State Trooper, and a good dozen cars and pick ups with little red flashing lights of the volunteer firemen. Alan got the huge old coffee urn out of the back room and set it on a table outside the bar's door. Just then a really huge wrecker rumbled up. Two stacks of foam cups some powered creamer and sugar, stir sticks and a trash can. And a sign that read "Free Coffee". A few of the bar patrons wondered back inside, but no one wanted to drink, not with all the cops outside, so by 10:00 He turned off the 'Open' sign. By the time the coffee was ready, they had lifted the tractor off the pick up and had dragged it free. With all kinds of nifty inflation bags and the 'jaws of life' they finally got the guy out from his mangled vehicle and sent him on his way to the hospital. Going back up stairs Alan was again greeted warmly by his lover. Snagging her leather lead, the two went back down stairs, across the dark bar and out the front door. Alan broke into a huge grin.. "She really can stop traffic." he said to himself as everything came to a stand still when the huge black and white dog came out the bar's front door. Quickly everyone was back to work, but for that second, everyone had stopped and looked. The ladies that had by now grown tired of the wreck, and were trying to get their dates to come away from their gawking and take 'em home, all descended on the hapless duo. It was a good thing that Alan had taken Alexis to all those dog parks. She was used to hearing the delighted squeal of human females. "Ohh.. Look at him, what a gorgeous dog!.. What's his name?.. Can I pet him? Is it a Dalmatian?" Alan waded through the questions.. "Alexis... SHE'S a Harlequin Great Dane.. yea they come in this color... Not all at once, let her sniff you a bit first." To her credit, the Dane stood still and accepted all the attention... she rightly deserved. Then the guys noticed all the ladies were gathered around the bar owner, and came to see what was going on. Then the same round of questions.. only this time with out the high pitch squeals. By now the emergency workers were ready for a break, spotting the free coffee and the crowd, they also came over to the bar, and a third round of questions were answered. The next morning Alan wondered over to the living room windows to look out onto the street. The pick up was gone, so was the huge wrecker, semi and trailer, all the cars with their blinkie lights were gone... But smack dab in the middle of the intersection was that huge tire with a circle of little orange traffic cones around it. Looking over to the gas station, he saw Tom had opened his usual early time. And was leaning on one of his gas pumps sipping a cup of coffee. Getting dressed Alan grabbed Alexis' lead and the two went downstairs and out the back door to the large open field. Letting her off her lead, the human watched his beautiful bitch run around sniffing the ground from time to time. "Probably where guys relived themselves." Alan figured. Finally finding a good spot, the Dane did her business. Calling her back to him, he clipped the lead back on her collar. Going around the side of the bar, Alan saw Tom give him a wave and point to a second coffee cup sitting on top of the gas pump. "Hey now this is service." Alan exclaimed, taking a sip of hot coffee. "I see we still have a reminder of last night." drawled the station owner. A large Dane head was interposed between the two men. Both reached to pet her. "You're going to have me wanting one of these dogs." Tom complained good heartedly. Alan gave a laugh.. "A Great Dane and a Basset, now that would be some combination. "I guess they could both stand in the same place, not take up any more room that way." Tom smiled and went back to drinking his coffee. "Well.. I wonder when they going to come get that tire out of the middle of the road?" Just then a huge black 'Sheriff SUV' drove up. And a big man with a Colt single action .45 on his hip got out. "Well Frank about time you showed up. What's that keen collage educated law enforcement mind of your's going to do about that." Tom addressed the muscular man with a grin. The Sheriff looked down at the huge dog that was now sniffing at him. "Dad will skin you alive when he finds out you got a Great Dane." "Now don't get your shorts in a bunch, she belongs to the new bar owner, Mr. Cooper here." Tom nodded to the perplexed man. The huge Texan stuck out his hand and pumped Alan's a few times in a vice like grip. "Frank Wilson, glad to met you.." The Sheriff grinned at the bar keep. In a lower voice he continued. "Remember that at election time." "Wilson?" Alan asked? "Your Tom's brother?" The six foot two lawman put an arm around the skinny cowboy. "Yep.. Cant you tell by looking?" Frank asked deadpan. "You got any more of that coffee?" Tom pointed to the station. "In the back, you know where it is." As the big man headed towards the offered coffee, Alan wondered if the Wilson family farm was called the 'Ponderosa'? Alexis took up a position close to the tall sheriff, when he got back with his coffee, she knew she's get a lot of attention from new comers. "Well Mr. Cooper, you sure have a pretty bitch here, what's her name?" the sheriff observed. "Thank you Sheriff, her name is Alexis and mines Alan." "Well Alan, if Tom here is plying you with free coffee, I guess you're a pretty good fellow." Alan lifted his cup in a silent salute. "He's been a great ambassador of Texan hospitality." "Well brother of mine, just what are you going to do with that big hunk of rubber. I don't think my normal 'tire recycle' is going to touch it." The three men and a dog wondered over to the intersection to get a closer look. "It's pretty warn down." the sheriff observed. "Probably someone was hauling it for salvage." "No shit Sherlock." Tom was always good at needling his brother. "What clued you in?" With a quick flick the large man flipped Tom's Stetson over his face. "Well wise ass, I got Beth calling that trucking company trying to get a hold of someone to find out just what they are going to do about it." The Sheriff said in his 'official' voice. "Also I left a message on Ralph's machine to see if he can come back out here and try to move it out of the road way... And any more wise cracks out of you, I'll have him park it in front of your fuel island." Alan looked at the tire some more and got an inkling of an idea. "Well if you are going to have to move it, you can put it behind the bar. I can always paint it to look like a flying saucer." "A What?" exclaimed Tom's older brother. "Yep.. that would look pretty good out there." Frank stared at the two men like they was both just sprouted a second head. Looking across the intersection the Sheriff finally notice the name on the bar. "'Warp Drive Inn'... What the..." "Remember them old sci-fi movies we used to watch on Friday nights, Alan here has got posters from just about all of 'em. Not to mention his very own flying saucer." Tom watched his older brother with a 'shit eat'n grin' on his face. "Come on over and have a look." Alan offered. The three men were soon sitting in the bar drinking Alan's free coffee. The Sheriff sat turning over a replica of a Star Trek phaser in his hands. "Where did you get this?" "Hell you can find anything on the Internet." Explained the bar owner. Handing it back to the bar keep, Alan got up and returned the gun to it's stand behind the bar. "More coffee?" He asked the two brothers, waving the half full carafe. "Sure." the two said at once. Alexis had lifted her head from her spot on the little platform to see if anything was being offered to her. Seeing it was just for humans, she laid back down with a groan. The three men looked at her and broke out laughing. The bartender filled the empty cups and returned to set back down. "You got any 'Wilson Basset Hounds" Sheriff? "Yep.. Two.. Basil and Nigel." Frank watched the barkeep for his reaction. "Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce... Sherlock Holmes and Dr.Watson?" Alan asked. The big Texan slapped the barkeep on the back.. "You have watched a lot of old movies." A sudden growl from the now sitting upright Alexis drew everyone's attention. "It's ok girl, were just having some fun." Alan assured his spotted protector. A faint 'ding ding' could be heard from the fuel island's bell. "A customer." said Tom as his shot up out of the chair. "Why don't you teach that bitch of your's to make change." the sheriff shouted to his brother's back as his jogged out the door. "Bite me!" came a shouted reply. The two men sat drinking coffee in silence for a while. "How's business? If you don't mind me asking." The sheriff looked around the bar again. "Not bad, considering I've only been open a month." Alan pointed to the movie posters. "Your brother gave me the idea to have a 'theme' to the place." "Tom came up with this nutty idea?" "Well not the actual space idea. I'm the space geek. But to give the bar a motif to help bring in folks." Just then the skinny Texan came back in the door. "You talking about me? My ears are burning." "I was just telling your brother what a big help you've been." "Ralph is coming down the road. So you better get out there and act all official." The big Texan got and walked past his brother. A quick flick and Tom's Stetson was over his eyes again. "Sure thing little brother." Alan watched from the big window as he got his bar ready for opening time. He saw Ralph and the two Wilson brothers standing around and after much head scratching and pointing at different directions, the burly tow truck operator started to unwind the thick cable from the winch. The barkeep went into the kitchen to get the Soup of the day, 'Reactor Sludge' started. Into a big stainless steel pot went, chicken stock, ham, carrots and potatoes. Just as he was about to stir in the spices, he heard the roar of the big wrecker. Going back to the window he saw they had attached the cable to the top rim, and was now trying to pull the heavy tire down the smaller side road that ran along side the bar. Alan was figuring out how much damage that cable would do if it broke, when the tire started to move. The Texas sand that blew everywhere seamed to 'grease the wheels' as it were and the tire continued to slide along behind the wrecker. The throaty roar of the powerful truck engine and the grinding of the sand could be felt as well as heard as the tire slid from sight. Alan went back to the kitchen to finish his soup making. Suddenly there were shouts. "Look out!" and "Get out of there!" Alan ran to the back door to look out on an incredible scene. The tire had caught on the curb and it's inertia and the truck continued pulling had somehow righted the tire, and it was now rolling by itself out towards the middle of the big field. Like a lumbering ocean liner the massive tire rolled with extreme slowness, teetering from side to side. There must have been a low spot out there, for the tire listed heavily to one side. Then with the grace of an elephant with a clubbed foot, the tire flopped to it's side. Seeing the three men, gawking at the tire, Alan came up with the only response that seamed to fit the occasion. Clapping loudly he shouted "Bravo, Bravo.. Encore, Encore!" The trio turned in unison and flipped the bar owner the finger.