Kristie walked in just as the place was beginning to hop. Happy Hour was in full force, the band was just beginning to play. The band leader gave Kristie the eye and a nod as she walked in. She usually sang about three numbers on Friday nights to keep her chops up and build her audience.
She saw Jack as she walked in. He was avoiding eye contact, scanning the crowd for the two or three other girls he was interested in. There was a large group of Kristie’s friends and fans sitting at several tables in front of the band saving her a place.
She walked through the crowded bar area turning heads as she passed a line of horny guys leaning up against the bar. They saw her and smelled her, and were filled with the frenzy Friday nights usually have for a young man about town. One such hopeful said out loud as he grabbed himself, “Goddamn, these women are makin’ my dick hard!”
Jack heard this remark, thought twice about his options, and decided that he better hedge his bets. He picked up his pace and strode in closer to her. He wasn’t quite ready to make the commitment, but he was ready to stake his claim if any one else started horning in.
Kristie pretended to be oblivious, but took it all in… pacing herself, saying hellos to people she knew… hugging a couple of guys she’d had relations with in the past… keeping her options open and intentions on the alert.
The band leader called her up, someone handed her a drink, and she went into “How Come You Do Me Like You Do?” Then she started in on “Bill Bailey” – slow on the first verse… then band took solos picking it up the second time while she danced around and interacted with both the audience and the band members.
Just as she had the whole place going, she launched into a scat solo and finished with a final verse, “Bill Bailey, won’t you please come home?” The whole place erupted! Everyone was having a great time… and suddenly he was there at her side with his arm around her… other potential dates backing off on all sides.
Suddenly,
He was hers,
She was his,
As if by Magic…
(First published 1/11/12)
