Glorious drunks, part 2,

He strummed it a couple times, and then said, "It,s my birthday today!" "Well, happy birthday" I said.
"Yep, It,s my birthday so I went up to Don Quixotes and had some drinks"
"Well, Ok then"
"Had some drinks..." he nodded. "they told me I have the cancer in my throat, the doctors, they told me..." He tapped a spot under his chin. "I gotta go get it taken care of." He seemed lost in thought for a moment. "I'm all about holistic and organic and natural, ya know? but when they say you have cancer, you gotta get that shit zapped!"
He strummed the uke a couple more times. "It's my birthday so I had some drinks up at Don's... Saw James McMurtry there once..."
"That's what you said"
He looked at the ukulele in his hands. "Ok," he said, "I'll take it!" He fished in his pocket and pulled out a credit card and his I.D. " I want the guitar too..." he said,. He looked up at the wall. "You do these paintings?" he asked.
"Yep"
"well shit, put one of those on there too..."
I smiled, "Tell you what, uh.." I glanced at the I.D. "Steve? You come back sober, and I'll sell you anything you want, but today I am only gonna take you for 60 bucks, for the uke"
He mulled it over for a few seconds. "Ok, Fair enough"
He signed the slip, gathered his things and shook the ukulele at me. "I'm gonna learn to play it," It sounded like a challenge. "But for now, I gotta go.... ....Back to Don Quixotes!"
He gave a little wave and left, and I watched him weave his way up the sidewalk and out of sight. I remember thinking that he would be back the next day or so, wanting to return the uke.
But he didn,t. It was a couple weeks later that he showed up at the shop, this time sober, uke in hand. I got ready my return policy speech, but to my surprise, he asked what I had in the way of books.
"I have been having a blast with this little guy" he said, "but I think I need some help"
I smiled, "books are right there, I recommend "Tip,s-n-tunes" Good stuff..."
He picked up a couple of books, and a few weeks later I loaned him the movie "Rock that Uke"
after that he came in and bought another uke for his wife. I was writing up the sale when I asked, "so how's it going with...?" I knew I had no business asking, but it was out there, and that was that. he looked surprised, but smiled. "good!..yeah, good. Doc says it is responding, so..." "good deal" I said. As he was leaving he turned, "Hey, thanks, thanks for asking"

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