He didn't make it past the fourth beer. His gal came, placed a blanket over his lap and belly and then took the opened cans. She shook his head as he poured the remains into the sink. They used to fight over him wasting beer like this. It still annoyed her. But these days they didn't fight over it. They had more money than time now. Although the money wasn't why she got annoyed with how Howard opened more cans even with beer in leftover.

To her it was a matter of ethics. It seemed wasteful to just dump out beer like this. Couldn't he just sip it a little more before opening the next one. But he complained that the bottom of the can always tasted worse. If he could have it his way he'd only drink the first half and open another. They would fight if it got t o that point, didn't matter how old they were.

While washing out the cans she noticed a commotion out in the main street. There seemed to be a lot of police coming and going. She wondered what the hell was going on. After turning off the sink she went to her laptop, put on her readers, checked if anyone had emailed on the neighborhood list-serv. Nothing. Just a few neighbors talking about a lost cat. Damn. She might have to go and see of herself.