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And from time to time it got a little worse
Well there's nothin' like drinkin' up a windfall
We was drunker than a monkey with a skinfull
We wuz so goddam drunk it was sinful
And I think I ain't sober yet
As we finished the chorus； Fast Eddie tossed up a cloud of gospel chords that floated me easily into my solo； a bit of intricate pickin' which I managed to stumble through with feeling if not precision。 When it was Eddie's turn I snuck a look around and saw that everyone was well into his second drink； and relaxed。
There were smiles all around as I slid into the second verse：
We was feeling mighty fine as we crossed the city line
Suckin' whiskey and a…whistlin' at the girls
But the next saloon we try someone wants to black my eye
'Cause he doesn't like my brown and shaggy curls
So then a fist e out of orbit； knocked me clean across the floor
But I was pretty drunk and didn't even care
And I was pretty disappointed when the coppers hit the joint
As I was makin' my rebuttal with a chair
But the coppers came a cropper 'cause I made it to the crapper
And departed by a ventilator shaft
Met my buddies in the alley as they slipped out through the galley
And we ran and ran and laughed and laughed and laughed
Yeah there's nothin' like drinkin' up a windfall
We was drunker than a monkey with a skinful
We wuz so goddam drunk it was sinful
And I think I ain't sober yet
This time Fast Eddie jumped into the gap with a flurry of triplets。 I could tell that he knew where he was going； so I gave him his head。 As he unfolded a tasty statement； I looked around again and saw all…to…wall grins again。
No； not quite。 Tommy Janssen； sitting over by the mixer； was definitely not smiling。 A pot…bellied gent in an overcoat； who I didn't recognize； was leaning over Tommy's shoulder； whispering something into his ear； and the kid didn't seem to like it at all。 Even as Eddie's solo yanked my attention away again I saw Tommy turn around and say something to the overcoated man； and when I looked back the guy was standing at the bar with his nose in a double…something。
I put it out of my mind； verse three was a…in'。
Halfway out of Levittown we got our second wind
In a joint so down it made you laugh
So I had another mug； and my buddy had a jug
And the cabbie had a pitcher and a half
When we got to Suffolk County we was goin' into overdrive
The word had spread and crowds began to form
We drank our way from Jericho on down I10 to Merrick Road
A…boozin' and a…singin' up a storm
I lost my buddy and the cabbie in the middle of the Hamptons
We was drunker than it's possible to be
But there finally came a time when I just didn't have a dime
I sat on Montauk Point and wept into the sea
And everybody in the joint joined in on the final chorus。 All except the guy n the overcoat。。。 who was already on his second double…something。
Yeah there's nothin' like drinkin' up a windfall
We was drunker than a monkey with a skinfull
We wuz so goddam drunk it was sinful
And I think I ain't sober yet！
A storm of glasses hit the fireplace； and Fast Eddie and I went into our aw…shucks routine at about the same time。 When the cheers and laughter had died down somewhat； I stepped back up to the mike and a…hemmed。
〃Thank you for your sympathy； genties and ladlemen；〃 I said。 〃We'll be passing the eleven…gallon hat directly。〃 I tapped the huge Stetson on my head significantly and grinned。
〃Well now。。。〃 I paused。 〃We only know two songs； and that was one of them； so we're real glad you liked it。〃 I stopped again。 〃What do you think we ought to play now； Eddie？〃
He sat awhile in thought。
〃How 'bout de udder one？〃 he asked at last。
〃Right arm；〃 I agreed at once； and hit a G。
Doc Webster beheaded a new bottle of Peter Dawson's and took a hearty swallow。
〃Okay； folks；〃 I continued。 〃Here's a medley of our hit： a sprightly number called； ‘She Was Only A Telegrapher's Daughter； But She Didit…Ah…Didit。'〃 I started to pick the intro； but the sound of glass smashing in the fireplace distracted me； and I bungled it。
And in the few seconds before I could take another stab at it； the fellow in the overcoat burst noisily and explosively into tears。
Fast Eddie and I were among the first to join the circle that formed immediately around the crying； pot…bellied man。 I didn't even stop to unplug my guitar； and if anyone had trouble stepping over the stretched…out telephone cord they kept it to themselves。
Paradoxically； after we had rushed to encircle him； nobody said a word。 We let him have his cry； and did our best to silently share it with him。 We offered him only our presence； and our concern。
In about five minutes； his sobs gave way to grimaces and jerky breathing； and Callahan handed him a triple…something。 He got outside of half of it at once； and set the remaining something…and…a…half down on the bar。 His face as he looked around us was not ashamed； as we might have expected； more relieved than anything else。 Although there was still tension in the set of his lantern jaw and in the squint of his hazel eyes； the know in his gut seemed to have eased considerably。
〃Thanks；〃 he said quietly。 〃I。。。 I。。。〃 He stopped； wanting to talk about it but unable to continue。 Then he must have remembered the few toasts he'd seen earlier in the evening； because he picked up the rest of his drink； walked over to the chalk line in the middle of the room； drained the glass and announced； 〃To meddlers。〃 Then he pegged the glass into the exact geometrical center of the fireplace。
〃Like me；〃 he added； turning to face us。 〃I'm a meddler on a grand scale； and I'm not sure I've got the guts。 Or the right。〃
〃Brother；〃 Callahan said seriously； 〃you're sure in the right place。 All of us here are veteran meddlers； after a fashion； and we worry considerable about both them things。〃
〃Not like this；〃 the Meddler said。 〃You see； I'm a time…traveler too。〃 He waited for our reaction。
〃Say；〃 piped up Noah Gonzalez； 〃it's a shame Tom Hauptman's off tonight： you two'd have a lot to talk about。〃
〃Eh？〃 said the stranger； confused。
〃Sure；〃 Callahan agreed。 〃Tom's a time…traveler too。〃
〃But。。。 but；〃 the guy sputtered； 〃but I've got the only unit。〃
〃Oh； Tom didn't use no fancy equipment；〃 Noah explained。
〃Yeah；〃 agreed Callahan。 〃Tom did it the hard way。 Never mind； friend； it's a
long story。 You from the past or the future？〃
〃The future；〃 said the time…traveler； puzzled at our lack of reaction。 I guess we're hard to startle。 〃That is； the future as it is at present。。。 I mean。。。〃 He stopped and looked confused。
〃I get it；〃 said Noah； like me a veteran SF fan。 〃You're from the future； but you're going to change that future by changing the past； which is our present； right？〃
The fellow nodded。
〃How's that again？〃 blinked Doc Webster。
〃I am from the year 1995；〃 said the man in th