Free Pint of No Return by L.M. Fortin Page A

matter when she called he would be in the middle of something.
    Callie shivered, feeling a chill.  “I guess I was sort of worried I hadn’t heard from you today and just wanted to check to see if you were all right.” 
    “Everything’s fine,” he said shortly.
    “OK, then.  I guess I’ll talk with you later then.  ‘Bye,” she said.
    “’Bye,” he said.  She realized he hadn’t agreed to talk to her later.  What had happened?   It was apparent to her head, and her suddenly tender heart, that Scott had come away from their evening encounter with decidedly different feelings than she had.  Maybe her thoughts on how people changed and grew over time were just that, only thoughts. In reality, maybe they just hid their original personalities with a thin veneer of civilization as they got older. Callie felt as if she was back in the high school cafeteria, tray in hand, crossing the room and extremely relieved to see Audrey on the other side waiting for her, even if she was sitting with Scooter McMillan.
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
     
    After Callie’s suggestion to Walt in September, the Bru-topia Premium Showcase had become a reality, with five brewers competing for the title of Skinner’s Most Unique Beer.  The breweries would be located at a central island on the show floor, allowing them maximum exposure to the attendees.  Now, at the end of October, they were down to ten days left before the big event.  Callie was always surprised at how fast the time flew by.  There had been several committee meetings and she had spent long hours with Walt and Yuki on all the details.
    None of the premium showcase brewers had yet to share the actual beverage they would be presenting in competition.  Some felt that keeping the beer secret would improve their chances of winning the title of Skinner’s Most Unique Beer.  Callie and Walt had decided that, as they were continuing her beer education, she should visit the five breweries.  It was good customer service and fitting to those who had paid a higher entry fee.  Callie could also get the information on their unique beer.  She would assure secrecy and then get the signage made just before the event to make sure the information was tightly controlled.
    Callie’s first visit was to the largest brewery of the bunch, and also the oldest.  Magic Waters had existed in Skinner for almost sixty years and had been the first brewery located in town.  It was a family run organization and the third generation was in charge at present.
    Callie pulled into the parking lot, but before going in she checked her phone and saw that her contact from Creative Imprints, the company providing the glasses for the brew fest, had left a message.  She hated it when people left a message that said, “Call me as soon as possible.”  Didn’t they realize how much that worried a person?  Besides, didn’t they have any level of trust that if they just left a non-urgent call back message that she would call them back as soon as she was able?  With a feeling of trepidation, she called her contact, Carlton.
    “Carlton?  It’s Callie Stone.”
    “Callie, I’m glad you called me back so quickly.  We may have a small problem with the glasses.”
    “I ordered them a month ago.  I know that was enough time.”
    “Yes, it was. We were getting the glassware from China to keep the costs low and then planned on imprinting them here in the states.”
    “OK, sounds good so far.  What’s the problem?”
    “There’s a dispute at the port in Los Angeles and a labor issue there has slowed unloading of cargo.  So much so that I’m not sure we’re going to be able to get the glasses in time to imprint them and ship them out to your event.”
    Callie’s mind started coming up with back-up plans.  Where could she get three thousand tasting glasses in under a week?  She was hoping Carlton would have a solution.  “We had a contract for the glasses and I won’t be paying