Where did everybody go?

Deacons inside a bar, he's young, vigorous, his body is taunt from his time put in at the gym, he's smiling, he's surrounded by friends, White, Black, Asian, Hispanic, Gay, Straight, Women and Men, everyone is having a good time. Welcome to O'Neil's pub, NY, 2006... The Beatles "Today is your birthday" plays on an old juke box and everyone sings along. Banners adorn the bar, "Happy Birthday Deacon!" they read. Gifts and cards are stacked up on a small table in the corner. Everyone has a drink in hand and they clamor for Deacon to make a toast. Deacon pulls a chair out and stands atop it. Forks and knives chime against glasses as Deacon does his best to hush the crowd in all their fervor. He's blushing, slightly nervous; but the drink has given him courage he does not ordinarily possesses. "Quiet, he's speaking!" "Shut the fuck up everyone!" "Give us a speech Deacon!!" the crowd roars... Deacon stutters "I just wanna... I just wanna" a voice in the crowd spouts off "Spit it out you old fucker!!" the masses in the bar laugh, a healthy laugh, everyone is friends here. Deacon reiterates... "I just want to thank everyone for coming out!!, you are the best friends a guy could ever ask for, and I love each an every one of you sorry souls!! You are my family, and I love you!!, cheers!!" The crowd responds in turn, "Here here!!, Cheers" "You sure you ain't gay Deacon?" Deacon responds, "I'm pretty sure" a voice calls back, "too bad!" laughter erupts in the room, Deacon steps down from the chair, clinks glasses with a few people, and accepts a kiss from a beautiful woman, "I love you baby" she speaks into his ear, he smiles... A moment later, Deacon is awoken by a loud slam on the bar, a heavy mug has awoken him from his past dream, and rests in front of his face. The bartender informs him, "closing time" Deacon nods his head, looks up at a calendar with dying eyes, utters silently, "It's my birthday... today" he takes a look at his surroundings, he's in a desolate bar, not a soul, not a song, not a gift... The bartender snatches a pack of sunflower seeds from behind the bar and tosses them at Deacons hands, "Happy Birthday... now get the fuck out". Deacon finishes off the swill that's left in his mug, takes hold of the sunflower seeds, takes a final look around, and mutters to himself, "where did everybody go...?"