Corkage Fees, the Barleycorn and Helping the Homeless

Danny was working that night down at the Barleycorn and he had a nice crowd enjoying themselves. I was there. not particularly paying attention but engaged in deep philosophical discussions with Pelkey, the blind printer. Yes, I did state that correctly.

The Barleycorn at California and Larkin was just up the street from neighborhoods that had a lot of homeless and occasionally we'd have someone enter and try to panhandle a little. Danny noticed an obvious street person enter who stood at the back quietly and politely. In his hand was a brown paper bag containing what looked to be a bottle of wine.

When he had an opportunity to approach Danny, he had pulled down the top of the bag which exposed the bottle's neck and showed it to Danny. It contained a cork. The only thing this man said were the following three words, "Imagine my surprise."

Danny smiled, grabbed his corkscrew, pulled the cork and returned the bagged bottle. He was given a snappy little salute as thanks and this man happily and contentedly left and returned out into the fog.

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