Before hitting the road for the Red Rock Rendezvous, Josh stopped by a neighborhood favorite for a burger and beer. Monkey Pants is the kind of dive bar you can only find in Tempe. The clientele is an odd mix of college kids, blue collar workers, and questionable barflies. Anyone who wants to drink is welcome at Monkey Pants - but you have to have fun doing it.
Josh thought he was in a hurry so had phoned in a to go order, but once he walked out of the bright evening sun and into the cool recesses of the Pants, time seemed to stop. "Put it on a plate and give me a PBR" he told bartender when she asked about his food. But it was already packed up. He flipped the pop top of his blue ribbon, opened his styrofoam box, and started eating the hand-cut fries.
A half dozen other people sat around the bar. Two beefy guys watched the game, a trio of toothless friends had an aimless conversation going next to them. A couple of working stiffs looked around for someone to talk to. The man next to Josh was already chatting with him when the bartender announced it was time for a shirtless shot. Anyone willing to take their shirt off would get a shot of tequila.
Beefy guy had his off at first word. The lone woman at the bar, one of the toothless trio, didn't think twice before showing everyone her bra. Then oddly, a polite looking college couple came up to the bar, pulled their shirts around their necks, did a shot, then left.
Josh's new buddy continued to talk as the bartender handed him his bill. "Hey, what does this say? How much do I owe?" He asked Josh about his bill. Josh told him the $24 tab was $49. "What!? How much did I drink?" he replied. Josh confessed and they shared a laugh.
In the corner an old man looking like the kookie prospector out of an episode of Little House on the Prairie stared at goldfish in a big tank. "You fishes better be ready to race tonight," he said tapping the glass. The man may have been three sheets to the wind, but he knew his Monkey Pants theme nights.
Josh finished his burger and looked at his watch. It was barely 6 pm, but it was just another night at the Pants.
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