Where you from?

The Midwest.

Never been out there. Never left the East Coast. I go to Connecticut and Philly sometimes, rarely. I stay here mostly.

From here? Jamie asked.

Not originally. Moved down from Lowell years ago. Had nothing. Just a couple hundred bucks, he told her.

Oh. Sounds familiar. 

How so?

Had a friend who did the same thing. He came here with not much. Drove here.

From your town?

Yeah.

You meeting him?

Afraid not. I was told he died.

Sorry. He raised his hand to the bartender. Two more, he said. Me and whatever she’s drinking.

Thank you.

Sure. We’ll raise a glass to him.

That’s not necessary. He could be a real sonofabitch, she laughed. Real unpredictable. Got to where he drank all the time. Did drugs. Ha. He was a high school teacher. Almost done. About to retire. And then he just took off. Left.

How about that.

He’d call and ask for money every once in a while. I’d wire him a few bucks. Not much.

Yeah. I know how that is. Had a girlfriend who used to call me up and ask for money. Don’t know what happened to her. Probably married. Or dead. Who knows.

Jamie sipped on her vodka and soda. I should have come when they told me he was dead.

Why didn’t you?

Mad. Broke. Sick of it all.

Right.

Where’s he buried?

Don’t know.

Have any family?

Nope.

I see. No money?

Jamie looked at him. Stirred her drink. Noticed the guy at the end of the bar eating a corned beef sandwich. Mustard dripped from his mouth. No, she said. No money.

I’ll bet he’s buried up at Hart Island. The potter’s field.

What’s that?

You never read the Bible? Where they bury the poor. The nameless. Criminals. No families to help out. Judas was  buried in a potter’s field.

I see.

It’s in the Bronx. You cant get to it. Closed to the public.

Hart Island, huh?

Yeah. You want another?

I better get going. She pulled her chair out.

Do you want me to walk you to the hotel?

I’ll be alright. Thanks for the drink.

Sure.

Jamie walked out of Smith’s Bar at 44th Street. The older man watched as she left.

One more, he said. One more.