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