Friendships made at school and workplaces are common, but have you ever wondered what becoming friends at a liquor store would be like? It was two years ago when she used to work at a liquor store as a salesperson. There, she met Pete. He was short and looked grumpy, but his visits to the shop were often, as Pete visited the store every other day to get himself a pack of Natty.
None of them initiated a conversation at first, nor did they ever make eye contact. It was just an exchange of a few words, and you knew when to see the other person again. She, the salesperson, wanted to crack him up and learn more about Pete, as his personality was somewhat different.
She made terrible jokes to make him laugh, but it was a failure every time, knocking on his door. All he did was shake his head and walk away holding the beer he was there for. Tired of trying repeatedly, she finally told Pete how all he wanted was to see him smile, but it did not make an impact either, until two years later!
Time passed, and eventually, the tires slowed down, but there came a day when the dynamics of their conversation finally changed. Pete walked into the store and tossed the salesperson a shirt that said ‘Beer Angel’. It was an unusual act, but it was hilarious. From that day onwards, Pete’s behaviour changed positively. He looked calmer and happier, and every time he visited the shop, he was never empty-handed anymore.
There was always something Pete wanted to give her, from a trash-picked candle to a Playboy, as he liked the girl’s earrings. Moreover, whenever she wore the shirt Pete gifted him, Pete always smirked and acknowledged the little act.
Six years passed, and nothing had changed. The man did not change his change, and Pete did not stop visiting the shop either. One odd day, he walked to them and asked the girl and her daughter, Violet, to get groceries from his debit card. He also asked for 20 dollars to keep.
It was truly a thrilling day, not just because they got twenty dollars but also because they came from Pete. Later, he also asked her to cut his hair because Pete could not visit the barber, and all these little actions made their bond stronger without them realizing it. From getting Pete tickets to trimming his hair, the woman did everything that Pete asked for, and they shared jokes and giggled after each one.
Although Pete appeared grumpy, his sense of humor was out of this world. The woman could recall one of the jokes when he told Pete how his family called him Kate. He responded by saying he thought her name was Butthole. Even recalling his jokes brought her to tears. After a few visits, Pete also bought him a cheque with Kate’s name, which meant the world to her.
The friendship was beautiful, but it could not last long. In a few months, Kate stood blankly, attending Pete’s funeral. She stood at a corner, well aware. No one at the funeral knew her; however, Pete’s family approached her and confirmed that it was Kate. Kate was overwhelmed with joy when he learned how Pete used to talk about her all the time.
Kate’s core memory of Pete remains how he called her ‘sweetheart’ on his last visit, upon which he told Pete how much she loved the name Butthole. Pete passed away but left behind dear memories that still make Kate laugh. His visits brought peace and happiness to the most lovable ones.
