They’re not saying. They never talk. You could listen all night, and you won’t hear a sound. Just silence, he said. You think you’re getting somewhere with them? You are not. They won’t budge. He lit a cigarette and blew out the match. What do you think this is? Some kind of party? Some kind of ball? A gathering where everybody prays for forgiveness? You would be wrong, my friend. He took a sip of gin and tonic. Could I get a lime, please? He said to the young bartender. Come on. That’s basic skills 101. A lime goes with a gin and tonic. The young man brought over a browning lime on a napkin. 

Green, he said. It should be green. A lime is supposed to be green. Unless it’s rotting,  the old man said. Bunch of fruit flies has attacked this. Ate on it. Get me another one.

The kid looks through his tray of cherries, lemons, orange slices, and limes. He grabs another lime and closes the case.

This one is yellowing, the customer said. Just forget it. It’ll be fine.

Sir, I’m sorry.

I said forget it. Can’t you see we’re talking. Right. You get that?

The bartender starts to laugh and then walks away as the old man continues mumbling to himself .