As much as Rick's follows the myth of the iconic gin joint in "Casablanca", I've
always thought of our regular bar customers as Casablanca's version of "Cheers".
And if there's anyone who (literally) fills the role of Norm it's Hadj. A portly,
cigar smoking regular who frequents the bar, dressed in summer in his trademark
white pants and shirt, exchanging the costume in winter for all black. I resist
the notion to yell, "Hadj" each time I see him enter, exercising a bit of
restraint as Hadj is a generic nickname for a man who has made the grand
pilgrimage to Mecca. There's usually an entourage, if not he calls them up and
people trail in. Invariably his phone will ring, in front of the sign that
encourages customers to turn off their mobiles. Today we got word that from
tomorrow at 9pm we discontinue serving alcohol to Muslims until 3 days after
Ramadan, roughly 35 days. As I entered for evening service Hadj was already
ensconced at the bar and I said, "Oh you're here for the 'last call' and he
laughed, but then turned serious and asked when what was the last day. I told him
it was tomorrow night at 9. He called more people and quite a group developed.
They just left, a fond farewell, saying "au revoir" - goodbye - rather than "a
bientot", - see you soon - and we prepare ourselves again to moan the absence of
many of our regular customers for the next month. |
