perks of certain jobs have nothing to do with the particular company or business you work in
they simply afford youan I mean utterly
basically fundamentally simply afford you the possibility of being in
the right place at the right time
without apology
apologies tarnish ones ones timingfor
lack of a better word timing(he wouldnt indulge Coincidence – he
didnt believe in the creaturedidnt believe in its hoary manifestationits
deliberate groping clawing craving pullingits Confidence in the proclamation of
its name NO)
timing . . .
timing . . .
Timing IS everything
he worked in a corporate
liquorstore(as a teenager he worked for a small Chicagoland chain called
Phillips Liquors where he learned how true customer service is provided and the
drastic difference between it and corporate who provides first for itself)
the liquorstore is situated off a
highway in a strip mall
it kept its high-end liquor
locked up inside of glass cases
mirrored-backed glass shelves
he had yet to ascertain the rhyme
or reason why corporate kept certain spirits aside from their pricing inside
these cases there were many as-expensive-and-more-expensive stock on the shelves that were accessible to anyone and
AND corporate was insistent when a customer selected a confined liquor
the clerks were not to let the customer have the liquor if the customer wished
to continue shopping but were required to carry it up to the cashiers where they would hold
it for the customer
that was the first rule he
ditched
if his customer intended to
continue shopping he offered them the choice
he felt that part of the process
of shopping for liquor was the enticement the fingering feeling of the glass
bottles in their handstheir shapes an unmistakably
sensual experience
there was that and then
after all they were full-blown
adolts not mewling or spastic or irresponsible children
DO NOT ENTER UNLESS
21 YEARS OLD
there was that too
a clutch of cackling laughing
Latinas came in together through the automatic sliding glass doors(thats another story)
five fullbodied lusty women they were offleash(he was doubtful they ever
parlayed the notion of leashes – if rampant machismo wouldnt have leather
thongs at their throats why would they) they were splendid in their raucous
chorus made him want to throw in with them whatever their adventure was to be it oiled by libations they were seeking
he welcomed them
they stopped silent in a communal
pause undressed him with their large
black eyesappearing larger for their heavy mascara and devised highlights and seemingly satisfied they sighed Hola in a
long single breath
he nodded May I help anyone
they burst into their tongue eyerolling almost elbows jabbing then the woman at their head shushed them and
replied in broken English Mebbe noThank
you
If I can be of help please let me
know Thank you
they had a little difficulty
breaking off eye contact then they huddled up
then they broke huddle and
dispersed into the store three bays wide
he didnt know their
culture
he didnt know many Mexicans
Puerto Ricans South Americans and hadnt mixed with them until moving to
California
that said offhand according to his taste it seemed to
him that only one out of six Latinas attracted him and that estimate seemed to be born out in
this enthused batch and that one she and he exchanged a healthy sustained glance(thats another story) as
the other women fanned out into the various liquor aisles
they briefly nodded
they smiled
then she followed in the wake of
her friends
they moved separately
they met in twos or threes
disbanded
merged again in different twos
and threes
dispersed again
it seemed they werent on the same
page each obviously at their preferences
eventually(and it was a stunning
event) the young woman who nodded to him sauntered up the aisle towards him
where he stood at the cash register
Could you please help me she asked as she walked up beside a locked glass case that held vodkas
Id be very happy to he said coming
out front behind the counter keys in hand approaching her You appear to be a woman after my own
heart
Am I
You are Youre before the cocktail vodkas
Cocktail vodkas
Yes Vodkas that are standalones not mixed Which is your poison
Poison
What do you prefer Poison Im from the Midwest is slang for
what liquor or spirit you like I have
no idea what the Spanish slang might be Its colorful
Fun
Ah I understand
she turned to the glass and pointed My poison is mango CIROC
Flavoured French vodka
You like vodka You said Im a woman after your own heart
You are My poison goes back and forth between Grey
Goose French wheat and Chopin Polish potato
Though recently Chopin is more appealing
he excused himself stepped before her with his back to her unlocking the cabinet
she said But maybe I think I am not a woman after your own heart
he slid the glass door aside grasped the CIROC at its middle Not after my heart Hows that
he turned around to his left the bottle in his right she had moved up on
him while his back was turned his right
knuckles ran across jostled her ample left breast he stoppedhe hadnt expected
her to move up as close to him as she did he stopped with the bottle between her
breasts looking down into her cleavage
he took a healthy sustained
glanceand a might bit
longer before he looked up into her face
but he had to wait to look her in
the face
she was still looking down into
her cleavage where his fist rest comfortably between her breasts
she looked up into his eyes
she
blinked
she
didnt step back
he
couldnt step back
he
wasnt uncomfortable
she
wasnt uncomfortable
I
said I might not be the woman after your heart
An hows
that
I was going to
ask you what I could mix CIROC with
he paused he looked down into her cleavage again
I have two ideas
she burst out into unfettered
open-mouthed laughterhe
enjoyed her jiggle rapturously her teeth bright white against
the caramel of her skin
then gathering her witsdaubing her eyes with her the back of her
handsher knuckles clearing the laughter out of her throat
You have two ideas
I do
And if you would
Yes I would
Either not mixing CIROC or
mixing it with pineapple juice
Oh she feigned crestfallen
Because frankly I dont think Ive
ever enjoyed CIROC more than at this momentan that brings two other ideas to mind
he didnt say
he
gently moved his hand right moved his hand
left
Is it getting hot in here he asked
her
MyGawd she could jiggle
1739, Saturday,
29 7. 17
1358, Twosday,
1 8. 17
Pere Ubu Real World
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ex1jZgaTZ8
