but to drunkards and ladies at his nightclub...they call him "Ham". i know right?

Well anyway this is fifth character in "Paul and Shelby".

Ham is 42 and owns and works as the bartender of "Bottles n' Notes" Jazz club around Washington Park in Southside Chicago. Even in 1974...the club itself hasnt changed since its glory days during the Second World War.

Practically inherited it from not his father, who is an accountant ( like most Jews), but from a black dude who died of liver cancer ( apparentky the previous owner loved his bar too much).

He encounters the 19-year old Shelby in the winter of 1969, when she stumbles into the nightclub to avoid freezing to death.

At first Ham tells her to leave since she is not legal enough to be there, however Shelby pleads that she would do anything ( and i mean anything) to stay.

He asks her " What can you do for me?" as if uninterested. Shelby tells him that she can sing better than that jivin-ass heifer on that stage and that if you let me stay here then ill get up and sing.

Skeptical that this skinny, skimpy dressed girl can persuade him, he is intrigued to find out the results. and so he lets have her moment.

the minute Shelby got on that stage and sang the first note to Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child", was the same time that Ham spilled beer all over himself from holding down the tap too long. because when he saw her perform all he could do was freeze like those telephone poles outside the club.

and thus began Shelby's singing career and friendship with Ham.

It's amazing how circumstances can bring people together.

Wow I swear to god i was making this shit as i was typing this...but i have already gave away too much of my story LOL. enjoy!