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Nubs had found himself in a spot of a trouble.
Having promised Hap he could tend to bar while Hap was away on a mission with Nash to acquire the most precious ingredient needed for the stew he was going to prepare for the upon coming harvest party. Alas, the ingredient being rare and all, there was only place to get it from.
And so, he needed to leave in order to get it.
Meanwhile, there was no one taking care of his bar. Hap only wanting to leave it in trustworthy and hopefully capable hands.
Enter, Nubs.
And so, here Nubs was, having made a promise to help his friend out while Lys and Kai were visiting a Jedi Temple in another system with Master Yoda, Nubs having made the sacrifice of staying behind.
It was going to be a quiet day after all, most people working during the day.
And so far, all had been quiet as promised. Nothing unusual per se as the mornings pre-noon usually were. But soon it would be lunch time and Hap was yet to return from his trip even if he had promised to be back before the serving of the meal started.
True, the stew as prepped and ready, bubbling softly on the stow in a large pot and the tables already set. So, basically, if push came to shove, Nubs could cater the patrons arriving to eat the delicious meal. Right?
After all, Nubs had been given a brief but thorough training for this job by Hap.
But still, Nubs would have preferred if Hap was the one doing the serving, with him only helping.
As Nubs was no bar tender nor a server nor a cook. True, Nubs loved to eat, but that fact did not Nubs an expert make in the other side of things. Being the creator and proprietor of a bar.
Nubs let out a sigh and then sending a soft wish to the Force, that Hap would return soon enough.
*
As luck would have it, Hap was a no-show.
The patrons having already started pouring in, filling the tables, only waiting for the service to begin. Looking perhaps a tad impatient, and Nubs could not really blame them.
Nubs was behind the bar, trying to figure out the best way to do this.
As the patrons were getting more and more impatient, having sat there for a good while, murmuring their complaints of slow service.
“Can’t believe this…”
“I only have so much time for lunch…”
“This has never happened before…”
“Where is the food?!”
Nubs observed the patrons drinking the water already in place and chewing on the breadsticks always available for the customers. But that wasn’t nourishing, far from it.
As they all wanted food. The chow. The stew so famous of Hap’s Sap Tap bar!
Nubs sighed heavily, closing his eyes and concentrating for a moment. His decision made.
Nubs got to the kitchen, placing the heavy pot on top of the hover-cart used for the food service. Pushing the thing outside to the customer area, Nubs could only hope the stew would be enough for the hungry customers which there were plenty of there.
As Nubs with his cart entered the area, the smells making their way into the nostrils of the patrons, they all erupted into clapping and hooting. Only too happy to see, well food!
Nubs smiled and started shovelling the stuff onto the waiting plates. The patrons eagerly accepting the offering and started munching on the food right away, the complaints and other noises silenced once and for all.
And so soon enough, there were no noises, no complaints, The Sap Tap only the sounds of happy sighs as they stew was devoured by the lot of them there.
Nubs, tired but happy rolled the cart to the back of the bar. Checking if there was anything left there. A smidgen was found, thankfully. Filling his own bowl with the stuff, Nubs ate the very last bites of the delicious stew.
A few moments passed, the food eaten and lunch time officially over.
The customers cleared the place, leaving the tables empty. Nubs taking a seat behind the bar.
Just then, Hap arrived, glancing around seeing the dishes at the back which Nubs had managed t clear out.
“I’m sorry it took so long for me to get back. But I see you have been busy too here, Nubs.”
Nubs murmured something in response, too tired really to argue nor explain.
“Well, then, guess I owe you my thanks.” Hap smiled at Nubs. “Why don’t you get back to the Temple and let me deal with the dishes.”
Nubs only too happy to hear this, got up and saluted Hap in response.
“I will make you something special tomorrow, as payment for all your hard work today, okay.”
Nubs let out a rather chipper sound, hugging Hap before taking off.
After all, it had been a long day and Nubs had certainly learnt a lesson of what it was to have a busy job like tending a bar! And his appreciation for Hap certainly having grown as well.