Goodbye Loot

Unknown caller, unknown text number - conversation begins, tablet I need to return. M said he tried finding me on Facebook, remembered a conversation we had about my last name, how I said it was a Harry Potter character so he went on IMDB and looked for the rat characters last name then searched Facebook and couldnt find me. He couldn't get ahold of B, then ran into him on the street and asked for my number. He said that if it had been anyone else he would have thought he would never see his tablet again, but he knew I would bring it back to him. M is one happy owner! Pays for gas. He looks at his schedule from his newly returned device, "what day is it?" he asks, "Thursday," I reply. "I missed the taco eating contest I was supposed to be in. I need to go over and apologize. I will be right back." He leaves the bar, a few minutes later he runs back in calling my name, "I didn't miss it!" He grabs his belongings, "You can come watch if you want."
I finish my beer and head over. There are ten people or more. He spots me, says my name, lifts a glass of water and smiles. Fifteen minutes of taco eating goes by. The winner is called. He wins. He ate eighteen tacos. He comes over, gives me a hug and picks me up before going outside for photos with the rest of the taco eaters. He won a t-shirt and tacos until his record is broken. He points out the metal scorpions in the establishment, he made them.
Friday night I head to Viking for my usual karaoke, B and I were going to find a new spot to go, but I did not hear from him. I enter, "Want a beer?" my bartender says. I nod. She grabs my usual. G seems stressed and is having a hard time dj'ing. There are a lot of kids and a thirty-year-olds birthday party. I sit alone, but my usual gang is soon around me with only a few members missing. Something is off about the night.
A few regulars are trying to get Viking M to plan on meeting them in the morning, but he keeps saying he has a prior commitment. Later, he tells me that he told them he had a prior commitment, because he was hoping I would have breakfast with him. I tell him perhaps another time, then feel bad as I know he is in town only so often, keeps asking and turned down the other group in the hopes that I would say yes. Yet, I don't go.
Two teenage regulars look rather sad, I know the parents and ask the father of the daughter if she is no longer dating the boy. He says no. She looks like she has been crying, he holds his arms close to his body when he moves, sings a song, glances in her direction and gives a slight, sad smile. They made me sad. I wanted them to get back together just so everything seemed ok again.
B sends me a text, "What's up Tulsa?" he isn't up for going out.
J is still in a weird mood, but this time he says his back hurts, I leave it at that.
I decide to go when a group of intoxicated people show up, making fools of themselves on the dance floor and taking over the mic while other people are singing.