Correspondences were made, the usual back and forth to get to know one another. I told her my sordid story she told me hers. I explained I was just a pessimistic optimist living gray, in a black and white world, she said she understood. Just a couple of odd numbers in a world that doesn’t add up, who knows maybe together we could come out even… we’ll see.
We set the time and place, it was of course a gin joint near her sister’s house, the name on the sign said Jakes, but 50 to 1 says there is no Jake, there never is.
She was already there when I showed up, it’s best to let the girl get there earlier, that way you can make an entrance. There is nothing appealing about a guy sitting on a stool throwing back a few trying to look like he isn’t passing time. No instead I walked in, gave her a hug, a kiss on the cheek, and a nice to see you. She returned the notion. I caught a smile.
She had an empty glass, I ordered us a round, I was already one behind. She was drinking a Martini, she likes them dirty, I told Jake to shake it, he asked me who Jake was… I told you.
I ordered a vodka drink, they’re clean and to the point. She said the barkeep put the empty up there but never filled it. Dames, who could figure?
Don’t ever ask a question you can’t figure out, and there are few I can’t but when it comes to women, there is plenty you shouldn’t ask. The truth is a funny thing, reality has a way of holding many sides. More to the point, if you don’t want the answer don’t ask the question.
But who says I follow any rules, especially my own, so I asked her about her gun.
“I keep it in a safe place” she says.
I’m betting it’s under her pillow. Sounds like I will be sleeping alone again.
Wondering if she ever used that heater before. But if she did would she admit it to me? Now? I’m gonna have to say no. There will be time for that later, and hopefully I won’t be on the receiving end of a lead donation, I don’t like hospitals, and I like extra holes in me even less, so maybe I shouldn’t ask.
Me: “Hey cutie, did you ever shoot someone”
Her: “No, never had to”
Yea I know what I just told you, but I had to know, and so did you. Just another white elephant about the room, you can either ignore it or get it out of the way, sometimes it’s best to remove it before it makes a mess.
She was sipping her martini, (dirty not clean) as I was putting back my vodka, then another, they go down easier these days. We had the usual back and forth, maybe there was something here, maybe I was being set up, I still didn’t know if she was packing heat in that purse. I wanted to know, it’s best to know where you stand even if it’s at the foot of your own grave. But even I know she wasn’t going to answer that.
Me: “So is your gun in your purse”
Her: “Oh come on, this tiny little purse, don’t be silly”
What did I say? … dames.
I told her about her eyes, she wasn’t buying, they always think it’s a line. Life can become one big line if you let it, you just have to beat them to the punch or you become the joke. They sparkled, they had life in them, these days not many do. Most people have lost that, who knows maybe they never had it to begin with. Maybe hers was a gleam, and not a sparkle at all. Could be an evil gleam, she could have that gun in her purse, what would I know.
Me: “So how big is it?”
Her: “Excuse me?”
Me: “You’re rod, how big is it?”
Her: “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”
She had spirit, I’ll give her that. Maybe it would be best to change the subject.
Me: “You wanna blow this joint?”
Her: ”Excuse me?”
Yea, I liked her already.
It was time to go, I was going to hand her, her purse but she beat me to it. I dropped some cash for the bartender who’s name isn’t Jake grabbed my keys and followed her out the door. We headed towards the car with no direction in mind.
No sign of a trench coat yet but you never know.
