II.
Mmm-hmm, thought Michelle, admiring herself in the full-length mirror. A little black dress is always the ticket.
She gazed into the sapphire blue eyes of the young woman in the short, low-cut, sleeveless ebony garment who looked back at her from the full-length mirror. She smiled her sexiest “come-hither” smile – licked her lips sensuously, eyes half closed, as she ran her hands over her full, almost voluptuous breasts and down her body, caressing her thighs and swiveling her hips...one hand running back up her thigh, pulling up just the tiniest bit on the abbreviated hem of her dress, teasing as she exposed a little more leg...one of a pair that would have driven Betty Grable and Lana Turner insane with envy...
Suddenly, she stopped. Ye gods...I am so fucking horny! she thought with alarm.
Quickly, she went back over to her bed and sat on the edge, collecting her thoughts. No, no, no...this absolutely won’t do, she thought.Unfortunately, it was a bit late for a cold shower (which, although effective in the short term, seemed to exacerbate the problem in the long run).
Looking back at her experiences with men over the last few years, she felt like she'd been a conquest...some prize to be won, to be discarded when the novelty of victory had worn off. So...that's how men really felt about her? Fine! Tonight, she’d thought vindictively, we’ll see who’s the conquest and who’s the conqueror. Since the size -- and corrosponding fragility -- of a man's ego was in direct proportion to (what he percieved as) the size of his penis, she felt the evening night would present few real challenges. It was going to be fun. Revenge was indeed sweet.
But now, she had managed to get aroused – by her own reflexion!!
Oh, ye gods...she thought again, horrified.
Suddenly, she began to giggle...then laugh out loud... Within seconds, Michelle was doubled over in comic hysteria. When she recovered, she thought, I’ll bet even Narcissus never thought about having a gay love affair with himself.She looked over at the mirror again and sighed. Ye gods, am I that stuck on myself? Is that what it’s all about? she thought, as images of her persistent sexual fantasy – the one she couldn’t acknowledge, even to herself – flashed through her mind.
That’s bullshit, and you know it, she told herself fiercely. Everybody has those fantasies – everybody!
It’s THEM who are the problem!Men...that strange species, some of whom were definitely going to get their hearts broken tonight...not that Michelle was entirely convinced that men had hearts to break.
But she could at least bruise their precious egos.As she sat on the bed, her internal dialogue continued. Things seemed so different than they had been earlier this afternoon.
Earlier - even after her blow-up with Darrel - she had felt loving, light-hearted and full of fun...
...and now she was feeling bitchy and vindictive.
I like the way I am when I'm with Kathie, she thought. Why can't I find a guy that makes me feel like that? Michelle finally stood up, picked up her purse, and started out the door. Suddenly, she wasn't sure she really wanted to do this -- or even go out at all. She looked up at the wall-clock in her living room. I never did get to see the look on old Moudrakis’ face when he finds his own son screwing his wife (which, in her opinion, served him right for dumping his faithful spouse of thirty years – his son’s mother, Eleni – so he could marry that little bimbo bitch Suzette).She shrugged. Finally, she decided to meet herself half-way. She'd go downstairs and walk around the corner to the neighborhood pub she went to sometimes...stay for an hour or so, just to see what might happen. No law said she'd have to stay...
With the slightest smirk, Michelle walked out the door, down the stairs, and out into the early spring evening.* * *
"Ashley's Place" was fairly nice, as far as cocktail lounges went. Michelle went there periodically for a drink with friends, mainly because it was only two blocks from her home. She arrived about ten minutes later, still not even sure she wanted to be there tonight. Nice or not, "Ashley's Place" was still essentially a "meat market" for lonely -- or more accurately, horny -- young singles on the prowl.
No sooner had Michelle sat down at the bar than she started wishing she hadn't come. She ordered a wine spritzer, which she sipped at half-heartedly. What the hell am I doing here, she thought. "Hi there," said a pleasant baritone voice. Michelle looked from her drink, then immediately rolled her eyes. Oh...my...god...she thought.The young man who had seated himself next to her wasn't bad-looking...not a movie star, by any means, but what Michelle might have, at another time, thought of as passable...but that moment, she would have preferred sitting next to a pile of dead fish rotting in the sun than any member of the male species.
Especially this one, with that pathetic, hopeful look of lust in his eyes...
Aloud, she said: "Look...make it easy on yourself...just go back in the little boy's room and jerk yourself off, okay?"
"Whoa!" the young man said. "Hey, I was just tryin' to be sociable."
"No," replied Michelle curtly, "you think you might get some pussy from me tonight. Well, it ain't gonna happen, so just fuck off, okay?"
The young man scowled at Michelle. "Geez, what a bitch," he muttered as he got up and walked away.
Michelle smirked to herself. In some perverse way, that encounter had actually made her feel better. Hmmm...one down. How many to go...? She spun her bar stool around, slowly crossing one shapely leg over the other in a way that was demure and provocative at the same time. The hem of her dress hitched up even further. Michelle ran her tongue over her lips, looked around the room. With an evil smile, she sipped her drink, a spider awaiting her next victim.
A few more men came on to her during the next hour. All received a similar brush off. By the time man #4 sat next to her, Michelle was starting her third wine spritzer and feeling a bit tipsy.
"Good evening, pretty lady," the man said pleasantly. "Mind if I join you?"
"I don't know...how long's your prick?" replied Michelle, saucily.
"Excuse me?" replied the man, not quite believing what he had heard.
"Simple question, I think," answered Michelle. "I just want to know the size of your prick."
"I'm sorry -- I - I'm not sure I quite understand..." the embarrassed young man stammered.
By now, people around them were starting to listen to what was proving to be a fascinating discussion.
"Look, I see you've been lookin' at my tits since you sat down...since I can't look at your dick, I think I'm entitled to know how big -- ""Please, Miss Michelle!" exclaimed Rashi, the diminutive little brown-skinned bartender (Indian or Pakistani, Michelle couldn’t remember which). "Please not to speak so rudely to our guests! Miss Ashley runs a very classy place here!"
"Hey, it's okay," grumbled the young man, getting up. "I'm outta here."
Michelle chuckled as he watched him go. By the gods, she was having fun.
Rashi clicked his tongue and shook his head. "I do not know why you are behaving this way tonight, Miss Michelle," he said continued disapprovingly in his musical accent. "Such talk will not get you the affections of a gentleman."
Michelle laughed out loud at this. "Rashi, just bring me another one."
Rashi shook his head. "I think you have had one too many, Miss Michelle."
Michelle pulled out a $20 and threw it at him. "Keep it -- just bring me another."
Rashi shook his head as he made one more wine spritzer. "I only hope you are not driving from here this evening."
Michelle sighed and focused on the small amount of wine spritzer left in her glass.
"I really like the way you've been handling the guys tonight."
Michelle turned around.
Large, dark brown eyes regarded her, shining from a deep olive-skinned face framed by long waves of jet-black hair. Her eyes had just the slightest almond-shaped slant to them. Her cheekbones that were high enough to be noble without being arrogant, softened by the gentle curve of her jawline and soft, pouting lips that begged to be kissed. She looked almost like an Inca or Aztec princess.Michelle was awestruck for a second by the young woman’s sheer prescence. A vision of That She Could Not Acknowledge flashed through her head briefly.
Suddenly, Michelle began to laugh.
By rights, she should despise this woman."What's so funny?" the woman asked.
"Don't you see it?" Michelle giggled.
"See what?" the other woman asked again simply, without trace of offence. Michelle thought she detected a Spanish accent.
"Look at me -- I'm a redhead in a black dress -- and you're wearing practically the same dress, except you're dress is red, and your hair is black! You're backwards!" Again, Michelle started giggling.
It wasn't particularly funny -- but the dark-eyed young woman started giggling as well.
"You're right -- isn't that something..." she sat down next to Michelle in the seat the young man had just vacated. "Look, can you do me a big favor?" she asked in a somewhat conspiratorial tone.Michelle, still grinning, replied, "Why not? What do you need?"
"There's a guy behind you -- no, don't turn around -- anyway, he's been hitting on me all night."
Michelle brightened. "Oh, you'd like me to get rid of him for you -- ?"
"Just let me hang out with you – is that okay?"
Michelle nodded. “You need me to cock-block for you.”
The dark-eyed woman smiled. “Is that how you say it around here?”
Michelle smiled back at her. “Always happy to help a sister in need.”
"My name's Lina, by the way," the young dark-eyed woman said.
"Michelle," she replied taking Lina's hand and squeezing it. She gazed into the other woman's almond eyes for a moment. For some odd reason, she felt her pulse rate increasing a bit. Ye gods, she's beautiful, thought Michelle. She said, "I don't think I've seen you around here before." That was lame, she thought. Just what those jerk-offs say when they're trying to put the moves on you.
Lina just smiled. "No," she said, "this is my first time here." She glanced around. "It's nice," she added.
Michelle nodded. "As far as a tienda de carne goes."
Lina looked at Michelle quizzically. "A shop made out of flesh?"
Michelle raised an eyebrow. "I meant a 'meat market.'"
Again, Lina gave her a curious expression. "Like a carnecería...? I don't understand - I thought this was a cantina, not a butcher - "
"Never mind," Michelle said with a weary wave of her hand. "I didn't do too well at Spanish in high school."
Lina laughed lightly and patted Michelle's arm. Her touch felt slightly electric; Michelle looked up into her sultry dark eyes and smiling face. Her pulse went up another notch...
"At least you try," said Lina, sweetly.
Michelle took a swig of her wine spritzer. "Usually, I only come in here after work."
Lina nodded. "So what's different tonight? Your - how you say..? novio stand you up?"
"You mean boyfriend?" asked Michelle. Lina nodded. Now Michelle giggled. "No, no...nothing like that..."
Lina sighed. "Well, that's what happened to me."
Michelle put a sympathetic hand on Lina's arm. "I'm sorry to hear that...but I can't say I'm surprised."Lina smiled. "Between that and what I've been watching you do all night - "
"Wait," Michelle interrupted. "You've been watching me?" Whoa, she thought. This is a bit strange --
"Well -- yes, actually," Lina confessed. "You're so good at handling men...I thought I could learn something."
Michelle shrugged. "Not really."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not so good at handling men," Michelle sighed. Suddenly, Michelle had a feeling...she turned around.
Two men - one tall and thin, the other built like a bulldog were standing behind them with leering expressions on their faces.
"Hey, doll -- you and your friend wanna dance?"
"Eat me," Michelle retorted.
"Sure, babe," said the other one. "Your place, or mine?"
"Look, my friend and I are kinda busy -- take a hike."
"But what about your friend -- ?"
Lina grinned. "You know, I think there's a - how you say...? libreria por adultos...? Pornografería...?"
"Ya mean that porn shop down the block?" asked Bulldog.
"Ah, si...why don't you head on down there?"
The first man looked surprised. "What, you wanna -- "
"No," added Michelle, "but you're gonna get more action there than you will here, so fuck off, eh?"
"Hey, bitch -- " the first man started.
Bulldog cut him off, shaking his head.
"C'mon -- fuck these broads." They turned and left.
"Sola vaya, comemierda!" Lina called after them.
Michelle and Lina burst out laughing, and slapped their hands together in a "high five" gesture. Suddenly, Lina turned. "Hey, it looks like that table in the corner opened up -- let's move there."
Michelle looked and nodded. "Sure," she agreed. Maybe the men would leave them be...
“So, where are you from?” asked Michelle as they walked from the bar to the table.
“Puerto Rico – well, actually Cuba, but my family left Havana when I was a baby,” Lina replied.
Michelle raised an eyebrow as they sat down at the table together. “You’re a long way from home,” she said. “How’d you wind up in Oregon?”
“Long story,” said Lina.
Something in Lina’s eyes told Michelle that it wasn’t something she really wanted to talk about. She let it drop. Instead, she looked at Lina’s drink. “What are you having, there?”
“Piña Colada,” Lina answered. “Puerto Rico’s gift to the world.”
“Really?” Lina nodded. “Mi comadre used to wait tables at the cantina where it was invented.”Michelle held a hand up just as a waiter passed by. “Another pina colada here, please, and - ” she swigged down the last of her wine spritzer and held up the glass
“ – one more o’ these.” The waiter nodded and continued on his way.Michelle’s eyes met Lina’s. She smiled. “Gracias, mija,” she said.
Michelle rested her chin on her hand and smiled back.* * *
“ – so now, instead of keeping track of books, I’m the techno-geek who gets to fix the computer every time that little bitch crashes it,” Michelle was complaining.
Lina nodded sympathetically. “Seems like they should pay you more,” she said.
Michelle snorted. “Ya think?” At that, the two women laughed.
“How did she get the job?” asked Lina.
Michelle made a big “O” with her lips in a way that covered her teeth, and made a loose fist – as if she were grasping something long and tube-shaped. She then moved her fist in and out in front of her mouth.Lina burst out laughing, which caused Michelle to do the same.
Then Michelle asked, “How about you?”
"I've been working over at a place called the 'Tin Lizzie' since I got out of school.""I've heard of it...never been there," replied Michelle.
"You tend bar there?"
"I sing with a band there," Lina replied. "And serve drinks in between."
"Really?" said Michelle. "I used to sing in high school -- did a little in college, but I never felt like I was that good at it." She sighed.
Lina giggled. "Oh, I bet you're better than you think. You just have to practice at it." Suddenly, Lina tilted her head. The juke box had been going in the background, but neither of them had been paying much attention to it until that moment. "Oh wow," exclaimed Lina, "I love this song."
Michelle nodded. It was a catchy little salsa tune that she'd heard before, but had never really paid attention to. Lina grabbed her arm. "C'mon and dance with me," she said.
"I don't know how to salsa," Michelle protested.
"The just do what feels good," replied Lina, taking her arm gently, yet insistently.
Michelle shrugged, smiled, and allowed Lina to lead her to the dance floor. It wasn't unusual to see women dancing together, although it wasn't something she’d ever done before -- but why not? she thought.
Lina was good -- and her mambo-style moves were fun to watch. Michelle considered herself a fairly good dancer as well, but none of her boyfriends ever seemed to be into it. For them, dancing consisted of waiting for slow songs, then grabbing her ass and grinding against her - something she might not have minded in private -- but not on a public dance floor! (Of course, it had never happened in private.)
Briefly, Michelle pictured herself slow-dancing with Lina – then dismissed the thought before it could take further shape.
“You okay, mija?”
“Great – why do you ask?”
“Your face turned a little red there – if you’re tired - ”
Michelle shook her head and through herself into the pulsing beat of the music with abandon, her red curls shaking wildly around her head. She caught Lina’s eye for a moment. Lina smiled at her and winked, her black hair waving back and forth with the rhythm.
In spite of everything, Michelle found herself taking a genuine liking to this Latina girl.
* * *
By the time Rashi announced last call, Michelle and Lina were quite intoxicated and giggly. Funny, thought Michelle, but I don't feel drunk. She couldn't remember when she'd had such a good time with anybody.
"How'd you get here?" Michelle asked as they pushed their chairs out from the table.
"Oh, I took the bus," Lina answered. "I was gonna call a cat -- uh, a c-ca- a cab!" She burst out laughing.
Michelle joined her.
"God, we're both pretty smashed, aren't we?""Muy borracho," Lina agreed.
Michelle gave her new friend an affectionate look. "I really had fun tonight," she said.
Lina giggled and nodded. "Me too. And ay, we should get together again sometime -- "
Michelle replied, "I'd like that."
Lina said "You should come over to the 'Lizzie' -- I'd love to sing for you -- but here, let me give you my number -- " she started to stand up, and swayed unsteadily.
Michelle reached up and grabbed her arm, and again they both dissolved into laughter. "Look," she said, "I've got an idea -- we're gonna be hatin' life in the morning -- why don't you come over to my place, it's only two blocks from here -- I'll make us some coffee, and you can call a cab from there." She grinned, adding "save yourself a quarter -- and I make damn good coffee."
Lina giggled again. "Why not?"
Slowly, Lina helped Michelle to her feet. Giggling like schoolgirls, the two of them put an arm around each other, navigated lurchingly across the room and staggered out the door and out into the spring night. It had indeed been a memorable evening.
And it wasn't over yet.