(prompt: 'change' 23/8/2019)

"Rules ARE made to be broken."

"Not laws though. There's gotta be a semblance of order in the land."

"Yair. You're right. NOT breaking the law. Nope. I'm thinkin' of yer basic good manners stuff." Baz nodded his unruly mop-head of hair vigorously in total agreement with himself, pausing only to rub his chin. "Young'uns aren't so worried 'bout 'em these days. All too bloody busy for them niceties of life, aren't they?" His sigh was an explosion. Joe looked around. Just as well they were alone at this bus-stop, waiting.

"And doors! Yer know, other day this young blade's tellin' me about holding a great glass door open at a Uner-versity (yer top place of extreme learning, if yer don't mind!). Yair, held the door open for this lovely looking young lass - and you're never gonna guess wot she said?" And both shook their heads - Joe questioningly, and Baz in extreme disgust.

"She turns up that there pretty little nose and twists those kissable little lips real mean-looking-like, and snarls, "What are you? Some kind of Male Chauvinist Pig?'"

"Little bitch!" Not usually a man given to blasphemy, nevertheless the exclamation was out of Joe's mouth with his outward breath, shocking them both into silence for a moment or two.

"And then yesterday," Baz continued, when he'd finally stopped nodding his head self-righteously, "... yesterday I stood back in my most ornery gentleman-like fashion, allowing them young ladies to step on that train ahead o' me— "

"Making smiley eye contact with each one, I trust." Joe interrupted with a grin.

"Me? Course I did! Took a leaf from that Frenchie, Maurice Chevalier, didn't I?"

Joe nodded again, eyes dreamy in remembrance of that consummate French gentleman, charmer of ladies of all ages - all-time record holder of ladies' hearts.

"Yair well... missed my train in the name of good manners, didn't I? No eye contact, no thanks - they all rushed past as though I was part of the train, leaving me standing on the platform with one hand raised, like 'What was THAT??'  I don't know. Just not our world any more, Joe."

And the two old mates nodded their heads slowly, almost in unison. Joe stoked his pipe - fairly unsuccessfully it must be noted - although maybe that tiniest of glows would be resuscitated with the power of puffing he was devoting to it. Now Baz was the one grateful they were out in the open. Suddenly a look of triumph spread across Joe's face as he said, somewhat cockily, "What about the Golden Rule then? You're not the kind of fellow who'd be breaking that one, I'll be bound."

"Well, that's where it all unravelled, me old mate." Baz looked shamefaced and seemed to have sudden difficulties meeting Joe's questioning eyes. "I reckoned I'd deserve a damn good kick in the pants if I behaved like that. And so..." He looked unusually embarrassed.

"You didn't! With your gammy knee?" Understanding flooded Joe's eyes and he started laughing, and the tears multiplied as he gasped out, "I've heard of being hamstrung by good manners... and coming a 'gutser' from lack of them... but YOU?

Crippled by good manners?

That's a change of pace, if ever there was one.  

Ripper Baz!"

Author's Note: See! Baz and Joe ARE sober some of the time. They do a normal workaday and then catch a bus or train to stay on the right side of the law, and then they head for their favourite watering-hole and it's all on for young and old. But don't worry, these two are the happiest drunks ever, ever entertaining all around them nearly as much as their creator!

One day all their stories (plus a couple more) will be gathered together - the working title for now is 'Bar Flies' - what do you reckon?