Wednesday, January 02, 2008

1988. One Night.

Spot on silk. Blot with finger. Rub with thumb. Press tightly against lapel. Slump against low wall surrounding dance floor. Drinks line up on wall. Wait for people dancing. Spot. Remove tie. Roll it up. Put in pocket. Turn. Reach for drink. Rocks glass. Empty. Look around. Take fruity drink. Down it. Take another drink. Knock it back. Stand tall.
Two women. From dance floor. Laugh. Glisten. Reach for drinks. Empty glasses. Look around. Pick point across the room. Walk. Two women follow. Look for M. At bar. Hold on. Rub neck. M. at bar. Walk straight . Bar. Stop next to M. M. kisses cheek. Smile. Money clip. Hundreds. Bartender listens. “Makers neat. Double.” Two women step up. “And a fuzzy navel. Stole our drinks. Vodka soda.” M. turns to look. Shrug. Smile. Pay with c-note for three drinks. Turn to women. Raise glass. Grin. Gulp. Empty glass on change. Walk away. Two women giggle. Sip drinks. Behind M. Tall. Curvy. Thick curly hair. Dark. Pull hair off neck. Kiss. Whisper. “Home.” M. turns. “Having fun.” Long kiss. Pull away. Nod. Hold hands. Smile. Peel note from money clip. “At home.” “At home.”

Sidewalk. Doormen. Nod. Cold air. Stop. Turn to look in window. M. laughing. Chatting. Breathe deep. Take step. Button jacket. Double-breasted. Rub neck. Pick a point. Walk. Hands in trouser pockets. Keys. Car door. Red. German. Two seats. Soft top. Knees buckle. Stand tall. Shiver. Key hovers over lock. Look up. Down the block. Fuzzy Navel and Vodka Soda arm in arm. Go into neon. Rub neck. Keys in pocket. Rub face. Knot tie. Car window reflection. Tuck tie into jacket. Smooth hair. Shrug shoulders. Open eyes wide. Yawn. Pucker. Walk.
Dragon on back. Tail over hip. Down leg. Dollar bills. High heels. Pole. Step up. Drop bill between fuzzy navel and vodka soda on bar. “Lager.” Switch to beer. Two women giggle. Glasses and bottle touch. Giggle. Drink. Turn. Watch dragon. Fuzzy Navel picks up five from change on bar. Waves it. Dragon Lady. Eyes on Deep Pockets. Grab ten with tits. Vodka Soda. A ten. From bar change. Dragon Lady arches back. Five disappears. Slide down to floor. Hello Dragon Lady. Vodka Soda slides ten up thigh. Eyes on Deep Pockets. Benjamin. Hold it out. Look away. Take it. Dance away. Fuzzy navel and Vodka Soda laugh. Drink. Touch Deep Pockets. Laugh. Flirt.
Vodka Soda gone. Ladies. Another round. Kiss Fuzzy Navel. Pull away. Giggle. Deeper. Sloppy. Giggle. Vodka Soda returns. “What’s so funny?” Another round. Cheers. Clink. Laugh. Drink. Smoke. Kiss Fuzzy Navel. No tongue. Laugh. Turn. Vodka Soda. Smile. Smooth eyebrows. Grin. Vodka Soda. Fuzzy Navel. Ladies. Kiss. Sloppy. Stand. Into bar stool. Vodka Soda. Dance between trouser legs. Turn. Lap dance. Dragon Lady in corner. Wears dress. Sips drink. Lights cigarette. Smiles. Lift Vodka Soda hair. Bite neck. Watch Dragon Lady. Fuzzy Navel. Dance. Grab hand. Kiss cheek. Muss hair. Bye.
Dragon Lady. “Maker’s neat.” Smile. Bartender. “Two Makers' neat.” Another hundred. Raise glasses. Nod. Drink. “Thank you.” Coat. Faux fur. Leopard. Cigarettes. Pocketbook. “Have a good night.” Gone.
Pick up change. Sidewalk. Cold air. Look around. Dragon Lady. Smile. Turns onto Fulton. Vintage car. Buick. Run to car. Top down. Zero to forty. Fulton. Wind in hair. Tie over shoulder. Buick ahead. Downshift. Next to her. Eyes front. Smile. Give it gas. Likewise. Cat and mouse. Buick turns right. Into Quickmart. Double back. Inside. Flourescent. Cigarettes. Outside. Next to Buick. Take off tie. Smile. Dragon Lady click click click. Heels. Parking lot. Into Buick. Start engine. Shake head. No smile. Two fingers to lips. Puff. Nods. Open pack. Out of red car. Buick window down. Cigarette. Lean for light. Fire. Reverse.

Open road. Zero to sixty. Sixty to eighty. Downshift. Sub-division. Split-levels. Blue. Green. Brown. Gray. Yellow. Ticky-tacks. Slow. Pass brown split-level. Park gray ticky-tack. Engine off. Top up. Tie back on. Smooth hair. Walk back to brown. Front door. Locked. Look around. Go around back. Locked. Climb up deck. Listen. Look sliding glass door. Dark. Open. Quiet. Slide. Inside. Kitchen. Tip toe. Fridge. Orange juice. From carton. Wash face and hands. Dry on towel. Bring towel to hall. Open door. Power Rangers. Little brother. Next door. Bathroom. Across hall. Slip in. Tip toe to bed. Sit. Wipe hands. Brush hair aside. Lean. “A.” Nothing. “A.” Louder. Eyes open. Scared. “Shhh.” Kick off shoes. Remove jacket. Get under covers. “No.” “Shhh.” Kiss. Pull away. Kiss. “No.” Light in the hall. Door open. A crack. “A.?” “It’s okay, mom. Bad dream.” Hall light off. Giggle. “Have to go. Have school tomorrow.” Kiss again. Pull away. “Smell like bar.” Undo belt. “No.” Lift hips. Drop trousers. “No.” Lean to kiss. Push back. Take hand. “No.” Pull away. Pull hand under covers. “Then leave?” Nod. “Promise?” Nod. Lay down. Closer. Reach under. Move hand. Covers pull tight. Press mouth to mouth. Tongues. Collapse. Kitchen towel. “Go.”
Through garage. Tennis racket. “Mom’s.” Hold tight. “Bring it back.” Nod. Grab can of balls. Kiss. Good night. Lock door. Lights out. Back to city. Push button. Garage gate open. Garage gate close. Find spot. Upstairs. Key in door. Open. Stop. Chain on door. Light on. M. closes door. Removes chain. Opens door. “Where?” “Tennis.” Racket. Balls. “Where?” “Tennis.” Step out of way. "Tennis?" Nod. Step inside. Close door. Light out.

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