Freewrite - Sweater

Ernie was a server in a casual dining establishment.

He was fun, energetic, and easy to talk to.

Being a rather large bald man he also had another trait that was perhaps less than desirable.

He sweat a lot.

Source: Pixabay.com

I worked with Ernie quite often in the early days of my restaurant career.

He laughed all the time and was always quick with a joke when you least expected it.

He was the first to notice a pretty girl and then immediately ask her a juvenile question like "Hey, did it hurt when you fell out of heaven?"

Keep in mind that he was always dripping, and I do mean DRIPPING, with sweat from his head to his feet. His shirt was soaking wet at all times.

"Have you ever had a girlfriend, Ernie?" I asked him one day.

"What? Sure man. I got lots of girlfriends."

Every would just laugh, and so would he.

Ernie was a boxer that trained almost every day at the local gym. He got hit in the head a lot, and as you can imagine, he wasn't the brightest bulb.

He was my friend though, and I loved hanging out with him.

Sure we didn't have that much in common, but we spent many nights drinking beers in the back yard of this person or that person's house. Those days were full of joy.

Whatever happened to Ernie?

I can't say for sure.

It was over 10 years ago when I last saw that guy.

He was getting ready to be in a boxing tournament and I always wondered how far he would go.

Unfortunately, he left my restaurant one day without giving any forward address and no one has heard from him.

No one that I am friends with, anyway.

It's a real shame that friends can come and go in a moment's notice.

Wherever he is though, I can guarantee this much....

He is still sweating like a man in a business suit walking through the scorching desert.

He must be....for that is simply who Ernie is.

My friend Ernie.

The unfortunate sweater.