“Brook.” That’s the name my ticket was booked under, right?

“Alie’s short for Adaline.”

“I’m just Brook,” “Brook” answered and shrugged. They both chuckled.

“I know, right?” Alie said, “A lot of people have shortened names they go by, and introduce themselves accordingly, then go on to explain they have longer, real names, although mine’s not much longer, so I don’t know why I even bother.” They shared another quick laugh. “And my friend is Emily …”

“Who goes by Em, I guess?” “Brook” asked the obvious question.

“No, she goes by Emily, mostly. Em is my nickname for her – I created it back when we were babies — and only a few people use it.”

“Brook” nodded her understanding. The bartender had fixed up a Manhattan for her, in the meantime. She smiled her thanks at him, and took a tentative sip.

“You were right, earlier,” she sighed, as she took a longer sip. “This drink is really good.”

The bartender waved off Alie’s attempts to slide a twenty towards him. “It’s the Bulleit,” he said, by way of explanation. “People think it’s not a top-shelf whiskey but, really, you can’t do a better Manhattan if you use it as your whiskey.”

“That is a very good tip that I will surely keep in mind,” “Brook” answered and then took a longer sip.

Alie had gone through three-quarters of her drink, in the meantime. “Pretty strong, though.”

“Worth it, right?” the bartender asked with a smile, then quickly turned as he heard people calling for him from another part of the bar. A new group had arrived at the mid-section of the bar and were waving in his direction.

“So, are you prepping for a long flight?” Allie asked after they each took another sip.

“You’re right. This is pretty strong. Um, no, not that long of a flight. Relatively short,” “Brook” answered, then rolled her shoulders back as if to loosen her muscles, choosing not to elaborate. “You?”

“Long enough. Red-eye to New York. ” Alie drained the last of her drink. They both chuckled as she shook her head as if to clear the effects of the 46-proof alcohol of the whiskey in their drink.

Although it was her turn to say something in this conversation “game” Brook elected to “skip her turn,” and took occasional sips from her drink, instead.