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
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
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
