hegulped  perhaps audibly

                            not that that would have been offensive  it would simply acknowledge his incredulity

quietly gulped like a fish out of water  and fortunate to be able to keep his eyes from popping out of his skullhe watched a very attractive woman sit sidewise at the bar opposite his table -- her tongue working vigorously behind her closed lips – two twenties laid on the bar between her and a man

he had happened to overhear their bet and there was nothing from Heaven above or Hell below that would make him budge from his birdseye seat

he was nearly certain she was exaggerating  gesticulating  gaming the rapt man  moreaccurately gaming a pigeon a pidge although he couldnt be sure because hed never heard of it before let alone watched its attempt

Taking your sweet time, baby pidge said I suppose your money’s where your mouth is, huh?

through her clenched jaws she replied Failure is not an option. a bit of spit welling at the corners of her mouth

he liked that not an option

You’re something, baby, you’re really something. pidge was getting cocky

pidge leaned back on his bar stool as he leaned forward his elation growing into an enormous bubble of bliss absently fingering the bills 

it wasnt possible his optimism could grow any larger

                                                        and just then just like that My ass she orchestrated it  timed perfectly  she quit  she opened her mouth and stuck out her tongue and on it laid a double-knotted cherry stem

smiling around her conquering tongue she picked the stem up between the manicured fingernails of her right hand while simultaneously sliding her left forth to collect the paired twenties  These are for me. This is for you. she laid the stem on the cocktail napkin beside his sweating glass Thank you very much. 

                                                                                             then she played a slick trick he hadnt seen played since his grandmother  she folded the pair in halfthen in half again and slipping them into her cleavage  hid them in her cleavage under that that was exposed

he cleared his throat

she turned on her stool towards him

they had made brief eyecontact  

she saw him out of the corner of her eye

maybe part of her languishing in her labor was to entertain him as well  kill two birds with one stone

as he milled his thoughts she turned to face him  he held up his right indexfinger off a bent elbow  he wasnt in school he didnt have to raise his arm up into the air to be noticed or called upon 

                                                                            but nevertheless she said Yes?

he said expertly not too loud not too soft  just right justright as Goldilocks had taught him Youll excuse me But I wonder if you might please  pretty please prettyplease with sugar on top do with my dick what you did to that cherry stem

      concluding with a heartfelt sigh an alto among a chorus of angels while ridiculously batting his eyelashes like a freaking ingénue

she let him hang out there in his absurdity his audacity

                                                          then she smiled That work for you, handsome? 

Donknow  Never tried it before Never watched a cherry stem double-knotted either Work for you

their sudden smiles smashed to bits in the midair between them

Lemme buy you a drink  We can talk about it at least Negotiate  Have a good laugh

she smiled coquettishly they were a pair of broads At least.

                                                             You’re not trying to get into my bank, are you?

I think if I broke into your bank money  money would be the last thing on my mind

rising from her stool  Such a gentleman . .

. . And a scoundrel he said pushing his chair back away from the small table he walked around its edge rolled to her right stepping backwardsextending his elbow the crook of his arm to her My Lady

Such the gentleman. 

Thank you

I suppose we’ll see how you wear it, what’s to be done.

Never can tell  What else is living for if not for its mysteries

text  :  1849,  Sunday,  12  8. 18

1254,  Day-between-Two-Ts,  15  8. 18