SUGGESTIONS

SUGGESTIONS

51. My visit to the local dive bar, the Monkey, had only yielded proof that it was, in fact, a bona fide dive bar. And I had some free entertainment watching two gutter dwelling whores beat the crap out of each other. As I walked along the road back toward the marina, I spotted another, more respectable looking, bar & grill on the other side of the busy road. I decided to give it a try. Maybe my luck would be better here.

Only a few locals and a few tourists were enjoying the air conditioning and the ambience, if you could call it that, was a typical, boring nautical theme. I sidled up to the bar. A tempting sweet young thing approached.

“What can I get ‘ya?”

“Bottle of Bud, please. I need to calm down after what I just witnessed at the Monkey.”

As she opened the cooler to get my beer the attractive barmaid nonchalantly asked “Just knives? Or were guns involved, too? That place scares me.”

“No weapons used. Just two gutter whores beating the crap out of each other. Pretty brutal to watch.”

“I’m gonna guess Carla was involved. She’s just not the same after the accident. She’s banned from every bar for miles ‘cept the Monkey.”

She handed me my beer, and I downed half of it in one long draw. “I’ll be needing another Bud and a fish sandwich, if you don’t mind.”

My eyes were riveted to her tight ass as she turned to place my order. The bottoms of her butt cheeks were on full display, the cuffs of her shorts failing to cover them. She was pushing 30 but looked younger. Her bangs were cut long, the wispy hairs falling down her forehead playing tag with her long eyelashes. Her strawberry blonde hair hung to her shoulders. Pretty hazel eyes with just enough makeup to make them sparkle.

When she set my plate in front of me, she asked, “will there be anything else?”

“Some extra tartar sauce, please. And some advice.”

“Advice about what? You appear ‘worldly’ and more accustomed to giving advice than asking for it.”

“I got here on my boat a few days ago. I’ve tried a few places looking for a diversion, some fun. Nothing’s clicked so far. Especially not the Monkey.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m just looking to chill. A blunt, drink in hand, smooth music in the background. Is that too much to ask?”

“Damn, mister! That sounds perfect! Maybe you’re looking in the wrong places.”

“I guess that’s the advice I’m looking for. I want some suggestions on where I should be looking.”

She held up one finger telling me to hold on a minute. She moved off to serve the waitress, pouring drinks and passing plates to her. Then she disappeared into the kitchen. I ate my food and finished my beer. Then a different barmaid appeared. “All finished? Can I get you anything else?”

“Just my check, please. And where did the last girl go? I want to make sure she gets her tip.”

“Oh, she’ll be right out.”

Moments later she did appear and walked around the bar to the customer side. She approached me. “Your offer of a blunt, a drink and some smooth music in the background is accepted. I’m Corine.” She extended her hand.

I took her hand and kissed the back of it.