But as Brad looked upward, trying to come up with a plan, he saw Karam’s “look.” Brad knew the look well.
Sure enough, another hairy, shirtless man arrived at the table. He also had that "look" that warned Brad he might not have much of an interval to put a plan into action, but what could he do? To the whole world, he now was nothing more than a bug?
Karam might have paid more attention to the frantic fly that was moving around him and his table, if not for the fact that a very large man made his way into the back area drawing Karam’s eye.
With his beer in hand, the man asked Karam if he was alone.
“At the moment,” Karam said, ignorant of Brad’s presence.
Taking that as an invite, the hairy man took over the seat vacated by Nathan.
He bumped the table as he seated himself, which startled Brad and caused him to take flight.
The little insect flew out a distance and circled back, wings buzzing the entire time.
A gleam caught his eyes.
Karam was wearing a magnificent ring. No doubt from his own shop.
It gave Brad his only idea. He flew toward Karam’s hand and hovered near the ring finger.
He even brushed against the band of cool metal as he flew to and fro in front of Karam, who had been studiously trying to ignore him as he took the measure of the newcomer.
“Karam! It’s Brad. You made my wedding rings…”
It would have been a good clue, if he could have relied on speech instead of wishful thinking and telepathy.
Bernard finished his beer as his eyes also followed the little fly. When the bug landed to regroup and rest, Bernard turned the now empty mug upside down.
PLUNK!
The glass mug slammed down, enclosing Brad in a new prison.
Noticing Karam’s empty glass, the man smiled and made a gesture toward the hallway to the restrooms.
The insect buzzed wildly, landing a few times on the sticky sides of the overturned mug.
Karam, mildly surprised by the man’s actions, moved his gaze from the trapped insect and decided the man might be worth the effort of seeing what other surprises he might deliver.
He stood and walked off, followed by Bernard.
Neither of them paid the slightest mind to the poor insect left stranded beneath the upturned mug.