Rabbit Hole Carnival

Her left boot stomped as she pouted. “I’m 22, and daddy lets me run the place all the time! You’re the one in a bar when it’s not even 3pm!”

The old man chuckled. “Well, you got me there. You could work on your decorum though.”

“People don’t come here for decorum.” The redhead girl replied. “If people come here, then they’ve lost their place. And they will do anything to get it back, so be careful around them but also be firm.”

“Something else your dad taught you?” The old man replied. His eyes widened as the girl shook her head. “Miss?”

“Renee. Renee Shem.” Renee replied. “Daddy has his own… Answer, I guess. I forget what that answer is honestly. He always insisted I find my own.”

“I wish my son. Er. daughter loved me as much as you love your dad.” the old man replied.

“Your order sir?” Renee asked.

“What uh…” He stared at the board. Before slamming the money down on the table. “Just surprise me.”

Renee walked back behind the bar, and brought back a full glass. “you know a lot of people don’t like a Fruit Roulette.”

“No?” The old man replied. “I guess I can’t blame them…”

---30 MINUTES EARLIER---

“He— er. She is trans?! What am I supposed to do with that? Was I not a good enough father? Too away on the job? Maybe it was just inevitable… I need a drink”

The door swung open. “Welcome to the rabbit hole carnival. Which drink will be your festival?” Renee replied as if on command. And simply smiled as the old man sat down.

---PRESENT---

“What do I do?” The old man replied, downing the glass with ease.

“Sir?” Renee asked.

“Just fill it up a second time and tell me what to do!” The old man slammed his fist on the table.

“That’ll be your fifth, sir. Something on your mind?  Renee asked.

“Kevin.” The old man replied. “My name is Kevin, and her name is Kylia. At least it is now. And I don't know what to do about it now. Her mother must have known.”

“What makes you say that, Kevin?” Renee replied, refilling the drink without any further questions.

“The fact that she left!” Kevin slammed his fist on the bar. “She just abandoned us. Abandoned me. And left me with this thing that claims to be my daughter that I dunno how to raise anymore.”

“Just love her.” Renee replied

“What? What fruit is this anyway?” Kevin replied.

“You’re the one who ordered the fruit roulette” Renee giggled. “It's different every time. Yours ended up” She thought for a moment. “Lemon, Miracle fruit, Boysenberry. Dragon fruit, and that one is Mulberry.”

“And i’ve love each one…” Kevin replied.

“Kylia?” Renee replied. “About as close as feminine Kevin name as you can get.

“You’re a daddy’s girl?” Kevin replied.

“He is my uncle technically.” Renee replied. “Our family is not the best with love… Not with my non-binary self anyways” She played with her hair.

“But you call him dad?” Kevin asked.

“Yeah, because he treats me like his daughter. He just loves and doesn’t ask much of me. I just help run the bar.” Renee said.

The old man, called Kevin left as tip as he got up, and stumble like the customer before him he whispered to the next customer “You won’t regret it”

Renee just smiled and greeted the new patron as normal. “Welcome to the Rabbit Hole Carnival. What drink will be your festival?”