Welcome to Friday Fictioneers! We are a community of writers from around the world who post 100-word stories every week, based on a photo prompt from Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ blog. This week’s photo by Kent Bonham made me think of the way that certain streets and neighborhoods light up after dark, especially in the wee hours of the morning. I hope you enjoy the story, as well as the “historical” musical treat that follows.
Photo Copyright: Kent Bonham
After Hours
by Jan Brown
There were only three after-hours places in our neighborhood: a hookah lounge, a disreputable dive bar, and Alice’s Restaurant. Like the one in Arlo Guthrie’s song, the restaurant was run by a fun-loving, aging hippie.
Robert, my longtime boyfriend, was a handyman who bartered his work for Alice’s food and booze.
Last night, I dropped into Alice’s at 3:00 a.m. and found myself to be the only customer. There were no cooks, no sounds of the sizzling grill—just lovers’ moans from the back office. And Robert’s voice, “Oh, God!”
Now there are only two after-hours places in the neighborhood.
◊◊◊
Here is the promised musical “extra.” For aging hippies and other readers of a certain age, you may enjoy the following as an amusing trip down memory lane. For readers of a younger generation, consider this an educational video!!! 🙂
To read other Friday Fictioneers’ stories, or post your own, click the link below:
mezzojan 
Now that Alice’s has become a hookup lounge, you’ll need to frequent the hookah lounge.
Damn all unfaithful men 😦 – but well told. 🙂
Well said! It’s time to try a hookah 😊
Barter is a new word for what he’s up to!
Clever piece.
Thank you, Mick😊
The little toad. Barter indeed!
He’s a little toad, for sure! Or maybe a lower form of life? Possibly a slug 😁
Bartering away in the back room – has the man no moral compass? Good one, Jan.
I think his compass is broken! Thank you for reading and commenting, Sandra.
Sounds like Alice got what Alice wanted at Alice’s rest-au -rant. And why not for once?
Yes, I think Robert was her “server”!
I have never really listened to the words of that whole song before.
Thanks.
Good story too Jan 😉
Thank you, Dawn!
I bet there are lots of people who have never heard the whole song😌 It’s very looooong!
I love “Alice’s Restaurant,” Jan. My mom’s name is Alice, so I’ve always had a soft spot for it. 🙂 Great story. I never knew that happened at her restaurant.
Thank you, Amy!
Judicious use of matches and flammable liquids, no doubt. And deservedly so.
Possibly so! Betrayal is a strong motive. Thank you for reading and commenting, Patrick.
Ha, someone forgot to lock the door, that naughty Alice, surely did it on purpose The Alice i knew liked to flaunt those things. Well done!
Thank you, Yolanda!
“You can get anything you want at Alice’s Restaurant … ” I guess it’s true!
Yes, in this case, he can even get Alice. He must be one heck of a handyman 😊
Now this was classic arlo Guthrie. I had never heard this version of the extended song until your post. He could be a very entertaining, funny man. Thanks for the post.
Thank you, Bob. I’m glad you enjoyed it 😀
Oh boy! What a way to limit your venues! Perfectly written. 🙂
Thank you, Lorna!
Dear Jan,
From one fun-loving aging hippie to another, thanks for the memories. There was a time I had this song memorized. Still have parts of it firmly embedded in my memory bank. “Walk right in, it’s around the back…” I guess in Robert’s case it’s true. 😉 Well written as always.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you, Rochelle!
Peace and love,
Jan
I like the way your narrator reacted. She’s someone you don’t mess with, from the sound of it. Great point of view.
Thank you, Margaret!
The story was great, but the video made it extra special, thanks for the fun. 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it!
Ha.. yes I guess that everything has to come to an end.
Yes, it was a relationship that was doomed to fail…or at least a lover that was doomed to fail her! Thank you for reading and commenting, Bjorn.
I wonder if she took any 8 x 10 black & white glossy photographs. Alice must be a deity since Robert was moaning, “Oh, God!” 🙂
Yes, and the photos had circles and arrows and notes on the back to explain the things that each photo showed. 😄😄😄
I feel like your blog is chameleon; you throw in some really different posts here and there. the spontaneity in your posts has got me binge reading a lot of your posts!
Hope in time I can receive a follow from a lovely writer such as yourself (:
Yes, I enjoy writing fiction in different genres. I’m glad you enjoyed my posts. And yes, I’m happy to follow your blog. Keep writing!
Thank you ever so much