Featured image by Bruno /Germany from Pixabay
She sits there waiting for me to respond further while I sit there drinking this swill they serve in plastic cups pretending to be interested in the cat fight about to take place on the other side of the bar. After a time she pipes up “most people take that as a signal to introduce themselves.”
“I don’t know who I am.”
She laughs “You haven’t had that many tonight. I’ve counted. That’s only your second.”
I shrug my shoulders and say nothing.
“Okay. You want to play the mysterious guy with money role, I can play along for a while. It might be fun. Different at least.”
“Let me be honest Melanie. I’m not here by choice and not playing a game. I’m also not looking to get laid, as strange as that may seem. I’m simply waiting. When I’m done waiting I will have some idea about who I am and where I’m going. I’m sure my wait will take until long after meal time and I’m certainly not going to eat anything prepared here. Until then, I’m just a guy sitting in a bar that wouldn’t make it into the top 10,000 places he wants to be. Why am I here instead of my hotel room? As unbelievable as it may sound, this dive is cleaner and in better condition than the shit-hole I have a room in tonight.”
“Ah, you’re staying at the Regal 8 up the street. So much for your ‘man with money’ image.”
I nod in confirmation.
“Good. You can take me to supper and I won’t have to put out. Then I can point you to a better hotel in the morning.”
Now it is my turn to chuckle. Spoken like a desperate woman looking to climb her way out of a very deep hole. “I find really good hotels when I search via HotWire. I get crack houses every seventh rental when I’m forced to use PriceLine. Tonight’s lovely abode wasn’t chosen by myself or any on-line service. I will most likely have to work once my wait is over, so I’ll be eating fast food, assuming there is anything still open.”
“The Chinese carry out place up the street is open until 11. Mike doesn’t mind if I eat it here as long as I bring him an order of egg roll.”
“What does a guy have to do to just kill time alone?”
“Be dead broke, ugly, or not here.”
“Alas, being someplace else right now is not an option.”
“Why? You got a drug buy going down here or something?”
“No.” I respond a little too quickly.
“Oh come on. What have ya got coming in? Is it any good?”
“What if I told you I had AIDS?”
“We’ve already established I’m not putting out, so other than getting my name in your will, I have no reason to care.”
“Anna Nichole Smith without the pictorial” I chuckled. “Melanie, I don’t have a problem with buying Chinese if you are going to fetch it, but know this, I do not use nor do I condone the use of street drugs.”
The look in my eyes makes it obvious I’m not playing. After a moment she says “Sorry” then shouts “Hey Mike! Menu for Golden Wok.”
continued…
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