The barman, as has become a tradition over the years, is an alligator who got run over in the parking lot, and having been saved and cured, comes through the alley gate each year with a large wagonload of Louisiana goodies from famed chef Michael Rodeboadacheaux in gratitude. He is glad so much food has been brought in by those visiting the Tavern, as he was in doubt until the last minute that the Tavern would even open after our official chef Mmario passed away and no one was hired to replace him, as the help wanted notice was still on the front door.

The alligator loudly rings a triangle for silence, and tells everybody has to take shifts helping out with the cooking, reheating and whatever until a permanent replacement can be decided on.

There's still plenty of food in the freezer that the security staff hasn't eaten while we were gone. The supply of Zurich is still there because, not knowing what it was, they left it alone, and as mMario's cookbook is still here, the orders for his famous roast and his auroch-on-roll sandwiches can be provided when a lot of the regulars start flocking in.

The bats up in the belfry are overjoyed to see the combat peeking through the window.

The alligator organizes a few of the guys to get the pallet with the green Jello supply inside to prepare the Jello pit afresh. That's The only new shipment of anything that had been ordered since mMario's passed away. The Squid family has been spending their time outside the magic back door that opens to a beach.

There are other magic doors, but that's the only one that always opens to the same place every year. Other doors have led to The Yellow Brick Road and God knows where else,while letting i in giant creatures ranging from whales to huge moths.I

Liz The Squeak is not here yet, so the one loo is open with no line backed up.