On the Chicago Adventure: Tapas and Beyond

In which our intrepid band of characters brave Spanish cuisine, cab rides and t-shirts.

After walking what seemed like an inordinate amount of time we finally reached the tapas restaurant.  Upon our arrival we were brought through the crowded restaurant to a long table in a side room.  The patrons around us filled the space with conversations and we huddled close so that we could hear one another.  Wafting through the air was a combination of all the food being served, teasing our appetites as we looked over the menu.  A discussion of what and how to order¹ began.  The first decision was made quickly, sangria was a necessary component of the meal.  Upon his return the waiter deposited a pitcher of deep red liquid, fruit floating near the top.  Glasses were filled and passed around.  The aromatic liquid had the spicy flavor of a red wine but also a sweetness to it.  Eventually our food arrived and we enjoyed a delicious feast.  Once we had finished we food we paid out bill and went out into the night.

Our next stop was a small pub near by.  We entered and enjoyed a few beers and caught up some of Katie's friends.  While there we discussed where to head next.  Katie admitted that she would be departing for the evening so we did the only thing we could in this situation.   We gave her a hard time in an effort to make her feel guilty.  Unfortunately it was a futile effort and we parted ways with her.

So then we were four once again.Monty, Mike, Trumper and I piled into a cab and headed a little closer to Mike's place. The rest of the evening started off innocuously enough. We checked out a few bars in the area none of us drinking very much. Or so we thought.

When we left to walk back to Mike's apartment² we realized that Monterey had had more to drink than we thought.  What follows is, to my best recollection, what took place that night.

Exterior of Chicago bar, night.

Monterey: I want to fight some one.

Jon: What?

Monterey: I want to fight someone. Let's go back in so I get in a fight.

Mike: Monterey, you don't want to fight anyone.

Monterey: No I do, I want to punch some one in the [expletive deleted] neck.

Me laughing: What? Monterey that's ridiculous.

Mike: Yeah Monty, let's just get home.

Monterey: No, I'm going to find some one and punch them, punch them right in the [expletive deleted] neck

The for continue to walk towards the apartment guiding Monterey when necessary. Monterey stops at an alley and tries to walk down it.

Jon: Monterey man where are you going?

Mike: Yeah Monty that's not a good idea.

Monterey: This is a short cut guys I know it, let's just go down this alley.

Me: What if you get jumped Monterey?

Monterey: No one's going to mess with me. If anyone messes with me I'll just punch them in the [expletive deleted] neck. I'll punch them in the [expletive deleted] neck.

Jon: I'm sure you would Monty but let's just head this way.

Interior apartment, night. Jon and I sit on the couch. Mike leads Monterey to an air mattress behind the couch.

Mike: Here Monty just lay down here for a while.

Me: You guys want to watch a Planet Earth?

Jon: Sounds good.

Mike joins others at couch, after a few minutes Monterey sits upright on the mattress.

Monterey: Ugh, it's so [expletive deleted] hot.

Monterey rips shirt from neck down and throws across the room then lays back down and falls asleep.

Jon: ...what the?

Mike: Wow.

15 minutes later Monterey wakes up and looks around.

Monterey: What happened to my shirt³?
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¹ Tapas is, traditionally, a series of appetizers that the table shares but the restaurant also had entrees.
² About 10 blocks away.
³ This story still blows my mind.