No, this was not a quiet day in the tasting room.

I pointed out to Al that we really don't want the cops. I could see the headlines in the Calistoga Times, 'OWNER OF LOCAL WINERY ASSAULTED BY MOTORCYCLE GANG.’ Not the image you were talking about is it, I reminded him.

Borioso smoothed his jacket and said to me, "OK, Bob, You're right. We must think of our image. Just make that Luddite apologize to me and maybe I'll forget it... and just maybe forget to tell Mike to fire you."

I gulped, I really didn't think any one is hiring now and I hated those long lines at the unemployment office. I turned to Tiny, "How about it Tiny, just a quick apology, shake hands and it's all done."

Tiny glared at me, "I'm disappointed in you, Bob. I’m not going to apologize to that reactionary. The clumsy idiot simply stumbled and in the process probably damaged our helmets; any trauma to them can ruin their integrity. Not that he would know anything about integrity."

"I demand and apology," Al retorted.

"Well so do I---tough titty," countered Tiny.

Al leered at Maude's chest and smirked, "Well at least we agree on something."

Tiny let out a snort and lunged at Borioso. At great risk to myself, and way above my pay grade, I stepped between them. Maude I noticed was looking pensively at her leather-covered bosom.

Borioso, safely protected by me, puffed out his chest.” Bob, I demand satisfaction."

"Well, don't look at me, fella." Maude interjected.

"No, I mean, let's do it," Borioso said, "like in the old days when men were men."

Presumably, given his eastern background, Al, as improbable as it sounded, was thinking of a duel, not, given Tiny's size, just a good old-fashioned fight. "Al, get serious," I said. "We're are fresh out of dueling pistols and, seriously, don't you think you're overacting just a bit."