They didn't talk for a while. Johnson popped the top on the second beer, took a long swig, then tossed the nearly full can over his shoulder and down the hill. Good-bye, old friend, he said. I'll believe it a year from now, Virgil said. Johnson: Say, this whole stop-drinking thing . . . it doesn't include margaritas, does it?
In a moment of reflective silence, Johnson opened a second beer and took a deep drink, discarding the leftover can down the hill. His comment, "Good-bye, old friend," suggests he may be trying to bid farewell to a past relationship with alcohol. Virgil, on the other hand, expresses skepticism about Johnson's ability to commit to quitting drinking, hinting at a longer journey ahead.
Johnson then lightens the mood by jokingly questioning whether his decision to stop drinking excludes margaritas, revealing a more playful side. This interaction showcases the tension between the desire for change and the temptation of indulgence, conveying themes of struggle and camaraderie in their conversation.
