"Yoorgin! Come in back a while," he yelled, flailing his arm. 

 Jurgen waved back and pushed his way between the tables.  "Excuse me. I'm very sorry," he said as he squeezed through, carrying his viola case over his head with both hands. He made it to the door, and Al pulled him into the back. 

 "Here, have a glass of bourbon," Al said with his silver-toothed grin. "Christmas Eve's time for a little celebratin'!" 

 Al brought another rickety wooden chair over to a small table where the musicians were gathered. Seated on one side was Mabel, dressed in a fine long gown that sparkled with red sequins, her hair tied up in a bright green turban; long dangling earrings. She was the picture of Christmas, with a tipsy smile. A chef and two young men in soiled aprons worked the kitchen stove and oven, clanking pans and mixing bowls at the far end of the room; the lights were bright. 

 "Jurgen," Mabel said as he sat down, "I was hoping you'd be here this evening. I have something for you."  She slid her hand into the bosom of her low-cut gown, sending a ripple of laughter among the musicians. "It's a Christmas present," she whispered, fishing deeper and deeper—her shoulders wiggled in mirth.  "If I can find it..."  She drove her hand deeper to keep them all laughing. 

 Jurgen pulled his chair closer and held his viola case upright between his legs. Al pushed a tumbler of bourbon in front of him—and Mabel slapped five dollars onto the table with both hands.  "Now you go on and take this," she insisted.  "Ever since you showed up here, business has been getting better and better. I want you to know how much we appreciate it." 

 Jurgen looked at the bill—it was a crisp, fresh five-dollar note that had been folded, only once, in quarters.  "Thank you, Mabel," Jurgen said, then paused to fumble with his glass. He did not touch the bill, but left it sitting on the table in front of him.  "I'm speechless." Everyone laughed. 

 "Now you just sit here a while with me," she continued.  "The rest of you go on out and play for a while. I want to talk to Mr. Jurgen in private."  A low murmuring sound swept them, and they backed away. When Jurgen and Mabel were alone, she raised her glass.  "Here's to good business," she said. 

 "To good business," Jurgen replied, raising his own glass and clinking it delicately against hers.  "And a Merry Christmas to all..." 

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