the cat next to him left his receipt on the bar

where did they keep that paperChrist yellowed  tea-stained  he couldnt blame the guy for not wanting to put it in his pocket it might spawn or corrupt

                                   he had looked around quickly for a drink menu or a cocktail napkin or a flimsy coaster

Sonofabitch Papers paper

                            he wrote a note on the back of the receipt with a red Bic that went everywhere with him and as she went past him to the Ladies Room he slipped it to her  back to grade school

there was plenty of eye-ogling between them but she was with a table of friends raucous women plying themselves with drinks or wine she was a shot and a beer girl sipped them appreciatively 

he liked that they ganged up to enjoy The Girls Girls girls girls bounced out of their mouths as they shared storiesnever breaking into pockets interacting as a whole

nah he wasnt going to step into thathe wouldnt think to interrupt

returning she walked up to him 

he hadnt been watchingdidnt see her coming 

Smooth she said

he turned to her  Ah you read it I crossed my fingers he held them up to show her she laughedshe didnt cover her mouth her stock was rocketing

I did, with some trepidation, it looked like spoiled fortune from a rotting fortune cookie.

Sorry about that I saw you collecting your purselooked around Fact of the matter beggars cant be choosers

You certainly didn’t write it from a beggar’s perspective.

Would you buy an optimistic beggar

No beggar’s that optimistic.

Ill take that as a compliment

Please. I did have trouble, though, making out your printing; usually that’s reserved for handwriting. Then it occurred to me that it might be part of the intrigue.

Optimism  I wouldnt believe needs intrigues help   I get that a lot Often people guess Im writing in Chinese

So, that said, I think I understood it, although would you mind reading it to me for confirmation?

Id be happy to

some girls at her table began calling her over Girls’ night, D! Desiree! Come on, D!  she acknowledged them held up a finger motioning Wait  In a moment

Desiree

Yes.

Beautiful name It really suits you Parents must have seen into the future 

You ought to see my parents. My family, you’ll excuse me for saying so, is attractive.

he smiled at her Then you understand why I took a chan . . 

. . I don’t think you take chances, at least not without high probability of success – which isn’t to say, right now, youre successful.

she smiled big dimples stock continues to climb

I credit years of random opportunities an being willing to fail  an that Im a little nuts

Your note betrayed you. Please.

Yes

    I wrote Hello my name is Joe Cleverhuh

Rhymes.

Poetry Youre not immune to poetry not when you incit . . 

. . Read on, don’t get full of yourself.

Anfun have humour Ya got a real funny bone

You like funny bones?

I do the things you can do playing a funny bone right

                                                         she rolled her greenagate eyes humour washed pleasantly across her features he felt like he was making headway head for her head for him

                                                                                               as I was saying My name is Joe. 

You said.

Yes

And? Get to the rest. I want to be sure I translated it correctly.

                                                                 her lip curled like a wolves snarl STOCK! WAY UP!

he cleared his throat Our looks across the bar aren’t bringing us closer. You can see I’m interested; you seem interested. So, I’ll tell you what, cut to the chase, have a drink with me and we can tease. But if I finger you, I will split your brain in half as if it were a shelled walnut. 

Itll be nice, my word.

I thought that’s what it said.

Youas you said translated it correctly

Finger me?

Yes

Finger me? her eyes narrowedmaybe a little heat building behind them

Finger you Guess you correctly  Ill take you on a nice ride Desiree

OH.

he smiled at her and whispered Get your mind out of the gutter

a smile snapped on her face

                              Please, may I have a Detour and a shot of RedBreast?

he called the bartender over Please Two Detours Two doubles of RedBreast  Thank you

Okay, Joe, talk to me about how you're going to finger me . . 

hypnagogic 0914,  Twosday,  14  7. 20

1111,  Day-between-Two-Ts,  15  7. 20