all his life  it this was kind of stuff he walked into

                                                      “I could use a good stiff one.”

if he heard it once hed heard it a thousand times

                                                     innocent   innocuous      unless  unless

unless of course youve been invited to a movie stars fortieth birthday at the Old Hollywood Theater

how does a nobody like him get an invite

answer he knew the actors cousinthey dated when they were younger 

she happened to be in LA on business  her trip happily coinciding with her cousins visit

he lived in England and had come to the Los Angeles to introduce his fiancée to his parents who were visiting his sister

they were a Greek family  well-heeled  cosmopolitan  world-travelers
                                                                             he wasnt

another answer perhaps dumb luck a matter of being in the right place at the right time his daughter and son-in-law lived in LA and he just happened to be visiting

a week and a half earlier his old girlfriend efemaled him and asked if he might be free to be able to see her while she was in Los Angeles 

he emaled back  Crazy I actually have plans to be in LA that weekend 

she invited him to a family brunch Then you can meet my cousin NO! you wont be imposing. I’ve told you before, Greek and Polish families are alike, the more the merrier.

Yeah Thatd be a kick  Thank you

he didnt think of it a second time 

                                   he telephoned his daughter and told her he was going to go missing for a few hours on Saturday and if itd be alright then hed like to extend his visit through Tuesday evening to make up for time they lost 

Who are you going to meet again? she was a bit star struck as a teenager she decorated her room with a poster of one of the films the actor was in     

he wasnt impressed

actors and celebrities were just people

there was nothing to be awed by

Baby Im pretty sure they used a bathroom like we do do

Oh, Dad, you’re so funny.   

hed seen the actor in the postered film and several others

                                                             and while he had never seen his fiancée a Page Three girl who rose up out of The Sun to international prominence  he remembered her name before the actors  oddly he enjoyed the pale gleam of knowing it without ever having seen a photograph of her people talked and from those he might trust he assembled an image 

when he met them at the luncheon the actor eagerly preceded his fiancéehe hadnt seen his family in two years and hewell he  he was unnaturally wowed by her  he abruptly broke off his introductiontheir handshake and took the actor by his elbow moving him forward so he could get around him to meet her

it is possible she didnt use a bathroom

saying goodbye at the luncheons end she who took him aside and mentioned that she was throwing a surprise birthday party and would really be please if he would attend

English accent stunning an amazing physique

Yes Id be happy to comeattend

I’m sorry, you said we were going to the Hollywood Theater tonight?

Yes Yes we are

Well, I declined my invite because it wasn’t extended to a guest.

Your cousins fiancée asked if I would come 

I don’t know if I believe you.

he hugged herwhispered the password in her ear

when he let her go she stepped backwards twice  I still can’t believe it.

“I could use a good stiff one.”

thats what he heard just before he entered the bar backstage at the end of the night

“Will this do?”

“Oh, dear, look at you, you read my mind.”

Aw ferChristssake guys the bartender and a server Go on Get a room

the one whose mouth wasnt full spoke -- it would have been rude of the other to speak -- Oh goodness, beautiful, we thought the party was over, sorry; wasn’t that a crazy pie fight, absolutely exquisite.

quickly grabbing a bottle of Irish from a rack and two clean glasses from a tray on the bar not wanting to break the mood   MOOD really  Yah Amok I hadnt expected it any more than running into youse    

they didnt hear him

she was sitting in a theater seat a few rows up from the orchestra pit a couple seats in from the aisle

Straight up kid I wasnt stopping for ice Dont ask

she smiled through the lathered cream that stuck to her facestreaked her hairwent down her dress into her cleavage  Oh, how nice, how thoughtful, I could use . .
. . No dont finish that sentence

Excuse me?

No not until we have a drink first I promise Ill fill you in

0350,  Monday,  14  1. 19
1232 or 0032,  Day-between-Two-Ts,  16  1. 19

he poured

they took a sip

he thanked her for the drink 

Here  excuse me he snatched a dollop of lather from her widows peak so it didnt fall into her drink That was a really marvelous surprise party I appreciate the invitation

No, no, think nothing of it, you’re welcome of course, but not so quick. I find that people from the States like to obfuscate, change boats midstream . . . You were saying?

Ah  actually you were saying I interrupted you

I was, wasn’t I?

Yes

I was going to say, I could use a good stiff one.

You were And I must admit it sounds better coming out of your mouth You have cleansed my mind

Waatever are you getting on about?

he poured more whiskey on top of his Too bad airbags and seatbelts arent available with this plush red theater seating

Waat? Waatyou talking about? 

he really dug her English

he told her  she really knew how to throw a party