Clean Sweep - II

"Two beers, Monica, and whatever you're having," said Bill, heaving his aching body up onto the nearest bar stool.

"Coming up. What have you two been up to? You looked exhausted but content."

"We are—both of those things." Bill smiled across at his friend. "Max and I have had a very successful weekend."

Monica popped the caps off two beers and plopped them on the counter.

"Oh, do tell?" She leaned in close. Her whiskers nearly touched Bill's hand as he reached for his beer.

Bill began the story of their collaborative invention. "Well, the internet kept dropping out, and then Max rang, and…"

"…and now we've got an enormous pile of waste metal waiting to find a home," Max finished the story with an excited flourish of his hand that knocked his bottle of beer off the counter. "Oops! sorry!"

"No bother," said Monica as she uncapped another beer for him before crouching down to pick up the broken glass.