Tag / MLMM

by The Abject Muse

Absolutely Gorgeous

It’s First Line Friday over at The MindLovesMisery’s Menagerie blog. This week’s first line is:

Lush melodies drew her to the door of the lounge, the friendly smiles enticed her inside.

Lush melodies drew her to the door of the lounge, the friendly smiles enticed her inside. That, and a sudden urge to use the restroom. It seemed to be happening a lot lately, this business of peeing several times an hour. Evidently her ol’ bladder just couldn’t hold it like it used to. Must be part of the ageing process, she figured, but at the tender age of 40?

“Ain’t That a Kick in the Head” was wafting through the smoky air as Celia walked through the doorway. She smiled a sad smile. Her grandmother had loved Dean Martin and Celia had loved her grandmother more than anything. She looked around for a “Ladies” sign but didn’t see one, so she stopped one of the smiling waitstaff and inquired as to the whereabouts of the restroom. Surprisingly, the server put her tray down and walked Celia right to the restroom door.

She thought about asking the kind woman if she could pee for her too, but thought better of it. Not everyone appreciated Celia’s warped sense of humor.

As long as she was in a cocktail lounge, and there was an absolutely gorgeous guy sitting alone at the bar Celia decided to have a drink.

She stood near the man but not too close and ordered a shot of Yeager and a Bud Light.

The bartender hesitated, glancing at Celia’s protruding stomach. “Uh, Ma’am, do you really think that’s good for the baby?”

Celia’s mouth fell open but she had trouble getting words to come out. “Wh-wh-what baby? What do you mean?”

The bartender’s face was a lovely shade of crimson by now, and she simply stared at the floor.

“You think I’m pregnant!?”

“I-I’m sorry…” she stammered.

“Oh, don’t worry about it,” Celia said in a low, raspy voice as she gave the girl a sly wink. “It’s just a beer gut.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” The bartender looked skeptical but set about pouring the drinks.

 

Oh, my God. Could I be pregnant? It’s been about six months since I James and I…Aw,shit!”

The bartender placed two napkins in front of Celia and set the shot glass and bottle gently atop them.

Celia stared at them for a moment, shrugged, then downed the Yeager and chugged half the beer. She wiped her mouth with her sleeve and turned to speak to the absolutely gorgeous guy, but he was gone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SusanWritesPrecise

‘Cigar Bar Evening Lounge’ by Brent Lynch

by The Abject Muse

Carnival Glass

It’s First Line Friday over at the MindLoveMisery’s Menagerie blog. This week our first line is: Jaime spent the whole day browsing the antique store and left with just one thing.

Jaime spent the whole day browsing the antique store and left with just one thing.

And it was the perfect addition to Carmen’s collection: a Fenton Ambergina carnival glass swing vase. It had cost nearly half of her paycheck, but as far as Jaime was concerned, Carmen was worth every dime. Plus, she wanted their fifth anniversary to be extra  special.

On her way home, Jaime stopped at the Periwinkle Pub for a quick beer. It had been her favorite hang-out for years and she had some time to kill before Carmen got home from work.

“Hey, Jaime!” the bartender, Billy, greeted her, inserting an accent on the second syllable of her name. “What’ll it be?”

Jame shrugged off her coat with a smile. “The usual, I guess. Blue Moon Belgian.”

KT Tunstall’s Black Horse and the Cherry Tree was playing on the jukebox. Jaime always liked the song but never could figure out what it was about.

Billy brought her beer and Jaime tried to give him her credit card.

“Nah, I got it,” Billy smiled, but wouldn’t meet her gaze.

“Really?” Jaime sipped her beer. “Thanks, Billy, but what’s the occasion?”

“You didn’t deserve what she done. Someone like you, that should never happen to.”

“She who? What are you talking about?” Jaime’s throat felt tight and dry.

“Carmen and that…” Billy’s voice trailed off and he turned pale.

“C’mon, Billy,” Jaime’s voice trembled. “Carmen and who? What’s going on?”

“Uh, I thought you knew, I mean, everybody ‘y’know, everyb—”

“Everybody what?”

Billy sighed. “I’m really sorry Jaime.  From now on, I’m keepin’ my trap shut!”

“Open it one last time an’ tell me. Please!”

“Okay, okay,” Billy sighed. “Carmen and that Emily, or Emma, whatever her name is. They’re an item now.” Billy rolled his eyes. “In fact they just left here about a half hour ago.”

Jaime sank back in her seat. “What? How?” She mumbled as the flood of tears Billy look like he was under water.

“I’m sorry, Jaime. Really sorry…”

Jaime nodded.

“You want another one?” He motioned toward her empty glass.

Yeah, sure” Jaime sniffled and put her coat back on. “I gotta run out to my car for a minute. Be right back.”

A few minutes later Jaime returned with box containing the carnival glass vase.

“Here,” she gently placed the box on the bar and scooted it toward Billy. “Give this to your girlfriend, or mom, or someone. I was gonna smash it but she’s not worth it; she’s not even worth a dime.”

 

SusanWritesPrecise
by The Abject Muse

Champagne & Drive-Ins

For today’s prompt at Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie, we are to write a diary/journal entry. The entry can be from any point in the narrator’s life past, present, or future. If future tense and from our own perspective try to imagine where you would like to be. If we are writing from our own past try to write from your perspective at that time. If we are writing as a seven year old child it should read as if it was written by a seven year old child.

Dear Diary,

Tonight would be a very special night according to my mom. She said it would be a night that I’d always remember and never forget.

Tonight, I had my first legit date. His name is Robin and he is 16 with a driver’s license. He’s a nice guy and everything, but he’s super-skinny and has super short hair. The one I really like is his friend Russ. He is also 16 and is super cute. To die for cute! It was double-date so Russ took my friend Brenda, who is of course, better looking than me. I suppose that’s why Russ likes her. I wonder if Robin would rather be with Brenda too. Who cares because I don’t like him that much anyway.

 

Russ had a fake ID and bought some beer and champagne, Then they took us to a drive-in movie.

 

That night I learned something very important: do not drink champagne from the bottle. When I took a swig from the champagne bottle it fizzed up in my mouth and I couldn’t swallow. My only choice was to spew it out all over the windshield, which I did. Everyone laughed and I felt like an idiot. Robin wasn’t even mad. He must like me a lot.

Too bad.

That was our last date because Robin was a sloppy kisser.