he entered a liquorstore for spirits                          

                                     vodka for spicy Bloody Marys hed perfected scotch and Drambuie for yetperfected Rusty Nails and a couple Irish whiskys to sip straight 

he was in his own little world 

                              marvelously coloured by neon signage lighting the plateglass panes inside and out

he reveled and relished it 

                           because unfortunately  when he had finished with his shopping he had to cross to the other side of the store for whine wha he called wine and JesusChrist  white whines at that

he didnt know squat about whine

it had occurred to him to go at it first 

but when he walked inwhen he glancedsaw there were three aisles of whine 

                                                                                 Oohno  that wasnt gonna happen

so he crossed left and passed three endcaps to the last aisle to begin relishing his own little world and entering it he stomped the brakesstopped cold 

                                  a woman halfwayup the aisle stood bent over YOWIE  wha an ass  just an observation wha an ass 

                  she seemed oblivious  lost in thought

Shesh he walked up on her softly so not to startle her admiring her as he went 

                                                                                 just behind her he ask Could I help you with something she didnt stand upright a girl after his own heart  You know a damn thing about vodka?

I do

You do? her voice piqued she stood upright and turned to face him Good. she paused Excuse me please, gotta let the blood drain out of my headGeez. 

                                   he knew the feeling although her standing upright didnt help his feeling

for martinis she wanted to impress a friend  they like martinis

he helped her select a potato and a grain vodka though recommended the potato and told her if her friend truly enjoyed vodka theyd be over the moon for it

thanking him placing the bottles in a red plastic handbasket she excused herself and walked away thanking him even more and as she went round the corner she looked back 

he nodded 

winked 

she smiled

she had some ass and he wasnt going to deny himself 

somehow brazen worked for him

 

 

with his selections in his arm he headed over to whines

he took a deep breath entered the shelves

turning up the second aisle he stomped the brakesstopped cold 

                                                                 he said  WE GOTTA QUIT MEETIN LIKE THIS

he heard her laughter splash on the shiny green linoleum  

then her voice 

              despite her speaking to the floor You . . again?

GOTTA TELL YA  IVE GOT EXCELLENT TIMIN

You certainly do.

he walked up on her

she stood upright and turned to meet him

she was smiling 

                a continuation of her departing smile rounding the corner

You know a damn thing about white whine

I do. she said

they laughed conspiratorially

 

she selected two bottles that she favoured 

                                             Your friend will like these, I guarantee it.

You guarantee them

I do.

Theyre pricey

They’re worth it.

Awright Shot in the dark Mind providing me with your telephone number just in case your guarantee falters

In case it falters?

Yes

Are you kidding me?

How do you mean

Falters?

Falters Yes

Have you seen my ass?

 

she had a point

 

2337,  Reggae Friday,  12  2. 21

0032,  Sunday – Valentine’s Day,  14  2. 21