Rabbit Hole Carnival: Homesick

“Am I gonna have a new drink I don’t wanna make tonight?” Nick asked.

“Depends on a few things.” Renee replied. “Can I hear your answer now, for one?”

“That has always depended on if you have yours.” Nicholas said. “So do you?”

“I wanna make somewhere where people feel appreciated.” Renee replied, as she stretched. “A place where other people can stumble in, and walk out feeling like they know where and how to find home.”

“Your drinks always reflected that.” Nick Said. “I wanted to make a place where people found some kind of family. No matter what that meant.”

“Guess we’ve been doing that together then.” Renee said. “Kind of fits the idea behind this drink too.”

“Does it now?” Nick asked. “How so?”

“We don’t have sour on the menu.” Renee replied. “And I wanna make a drink that has that, and imma call it Homesick.”

“Where is the damn thing?” Nick replied, as dug through some drawers. “Here we are!” Nick hung up a sign that said. “Working on a new drink. Maybe closed tonight”

“So what's gonna go good with this many Lemons?” Renee said, thinking out loud. “Limes, for sure.”

Nick went downstairs after a bit once he heard some coughing. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Renee said. “Oh geez tomatoes were not the thing I needed to added to this things.”
Nick got Renee some water. “Tomatoes? Really? To a sour drink.?”

“I thought it could use more of a balance.” Renee replied. “I just wanted people to like it.” She sighed.
“Renee, if that’s what you focus on—” Nick Started.

“If I focus on making a drink everyone likes, then everyone will hate it. I know.” Renee replied. “I know it’s still a bit too sour for a proper drink though. What other fruit do we have?”

“You’re determined on making this today now aren’t you?” Nicholas asked, as he got a stern nod for Renee. “If you have it done by tonight let me know.”

“Any advice?” Renee said. “I know it’s been awhile since I’ve asked for that.”

Nick thought for a moment. “For a while I’d relied on you to handle fruit. I’ve never been great with it, and your first drink was a cider. Let me taste this?”

“Don’t say I did warn you.” Renee giggled.

Nick coughed up a storm. “Oh good lord.”

“Right?” Renee replied, and gave him some water. “Here, this is my base so far which means no tomatoes.”

Nick gulped down the water, and gave it a minute before he tried the based. “Way better. Not to my taste, but way better.” He gave it one more swig.

“You didn’t do that with the Shocking Apple” Renee noted. “You just said go with your own recipe. Which was good advice.”

“And I still hate this one.” Nick said. “But I agree this is more of a base, it needs something sweet, but not extra sweet.”

“Wait” Renee paused. “What you hate about the Shocking Apple, but Like about the Gobble Bobble then?”

“Well that was more of a Balance of Vegetables, and the fruit was balanced out by whatever you added.”

“Open the bar!” Renee replied as darted into the kitchen. “I think I know what to do.”

Nick complied, and opened the bar as an old man walked in. “You have a new drink?”

“I think we do.” Renee replied, placing the drink in front of him. “I’m still kind of working on it, but I think daddy here gave me some inspiration.

The old man gave it a swig, and coughed. “Adding a sour drink to the menu.” He nodded. “Not for me, but it’s good.”

“What did you add?” Nick asked. “The base was definitely way too sour.”

“Watermelon.” Renee replied. “I added it to the Shocking Apple too, and added it to some drinks when customers find the veggie drinks too strong.”

“And what is this new drink name young lady?” The old man asked. “Do you have a name to add to the family business?”

“This isn’t a family business. It's just me and my uncle here.” Renee replied. “But I was thinking about calling it Homesick.”