Back to DC.\u00a0 It was bourbon at the Hotel Washington for Eisenhower.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know the connection, but I\u2019m sure it seemed logical at the time.\u00a0 I also couldn\u2019t tell you where we ended up for Truman, but a deep slice on my arm was bleeding steadily.\u00a0 I had several napkins stuck to it, fouled with blood and dirt.<\/p>\n
\nJames had calmed somewhat since the Quarry House.<\/p>\n
\u201cThirty-five?\u201d He asked me.<\/p>\n
\u201cJFK.\u201d<\/p>\n
David giggled, \u201cWith a bullet!\u201d<\/p>\n
A hush fell over the adjacent tables and David blanched.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen can I have my 22 ounce glass of Heineken freakout?\u201d James asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot yet,\u201d I told him. \u201cLet\u2019s go to the Post Pub for old Jack.\u00a0 It\u2019s just down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy is it just down the street?\u201d<\/p>\n
James grabbed my arm, \u201cThat right there is why I hate you, Nacho.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry.\u00a0 We should go because<\/em> it\u2019s just down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the JFK connection?\u201d David asked.<\/p>\n \u201cJFK was in DC.\u201d<\/p>\n James rolled his eyes, \u201cI see where this is going.\u00a0 The first quiet booth in a dark bar that we find, and we\u2019re losing Nacho.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJames, we\u2019ve been drinking for what feels like weeks.\u00a0 Maybe we can ride out the modern presidents somewhere nice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll give you some recharge time at the Post Pub, but then we\u2019re on the move.\u201d<\/p>\n And it was at the Post Pub, where I double-fisted Dr. Pepper and vodka shots, where things started to fall apart.\u00a0 Though we weren\u2019t really aware of it at the time.\u00a0 Everything seemed okay.\u00a0 But there was something brewing in James on that instinctual, sub-conscious level.\u00a0 I could hear it in the tremolo of his voice as he started ordering scotch.\u00a0 You could pick up this vibration of evil emanating from deep within him.<\/p>\n I opted to ignore this.\u00a0 Don\u2019t get involved.\u00a0 Don\u2019t try to do anything.\u00a0 Just be ready to run, and run fast, when the shit hit the fan.<\/p>\n \u201cThirty-six!\u201d David said, \u201cIs LBJ.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNotable points?\u201d James asked.<\/p>\n \u201cEars.\u00a0 Dogs.\u00a0 Texas.\u00a0 Medicare.\u00a0 Great Society.\u00a0 Vietnam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCivil Rights.\u201d James added. \u201cWe can go to a negro bar.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAren\u2019t we saving the negro bar for the end?\u201d David asked.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need a half negro bar for the finale.\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Mulatto Cup.\u201d James giggled.<\/p>\n I finished my vodka, \u201cI haven\u2019t heard that word since 1930.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI knew it!\u00a0 You\u2019re a vampire!\u00a0 A Confederate soldier turned by a small boy on the road to Atlanta!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo maybe we\u2019re staying here for LBJ,\u201d David mumbled.<\/p>\n \u201cI am afraid to move.\u201d I said.<\/p>\n \u201cFine,\u201d James waved down the bartender, \u201cthree Erin Go Braghs!\u201d<\/p>\n I glanced over at David, \u201cOh my god.\u201d<\/p>\n Healthy-sized tumblers of whisky arrived and James knocked his back in one, hateful gulp.\u00a0 \u201cThree seven!\u201d he shouted.<\/p>\n \u201cNixon.\u201d<\/p>\n And then there was silence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Back to DC.\u00a0 It was bourbon at the Hotel Washington for Eisenhower.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know the connection, but I\u2019m sure it seemed logical at the time.\u00a0 I also couldn\u2019t tell you where we ended up for Truman, but a deep …<\/p>\n