![\"drink\"](\"http:\/\/www.anfocal.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/drink.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
By Stephen Riordan<\/p>\n
\n
\u201cDrinking alone?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not interested,\u201d Scott sat hunched over a glass of whiskey.<\/p>\n
\u201cWow. Now I get why you\u2019re by yourself.\u201d A whiff of lavender passed over Scott.<\/p>\n
He sighed and turned. A pretty young woman was standing before him; short blonde hair, dark knowing eyes and a turquoise dress that complemented her curves.<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry; rough day at work.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve all been there. It\u2019s okay. Name\u2019s Tanya,\u201d she popped herself on a stool and thrust out her hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cScott Holloway.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tanya smiled. She had a beauty spot above her upper lip. \u201cWell? Aren\u2019t you going to get me a drink?\u201d<\/p>\n
Scott flinched. Who is this woman? He sighed and pulled out his wallet. \u201cYeah sure. What\u2019ll you have?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll have a margarita on the rocks, salt on the rim, with a lime slice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scott stared. \u201cIs that it? What about a sparkler? Or maybe a small umbrella?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, that\u2019ll do. I\u2019m not fussy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scott scoffed and ordered as the band started to play Miles Davis\u2019 \u201cNuit Sur Les Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I love this song.\u201d Tanya tilted her head back; the light caught the delicate line of her neck. \u201cIt\u2019s quite appropriate actually.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy\u2019s that?\u201d Scott asked as the bartender served Tanya\u2019s drink.<\/p>\n
\u201cListen to how lonely the trumpet sounds. It\u2019s like you: all dark and mysterious.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat makes you think I\u2019m lonely?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell you were sitting here by yourself, and you\u2019re not wearing a wedding ring,\u201d she sipped her drink. \u201cSo either you\u2019re divorced or you\u2019re really unlucky with women.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOr maybe I haven\u2019t met any women that interest me,\u201d Scott chugged down his drink. It stung his throat. \u201cExcuse me.\u201d He got up to leave.<\/p>\n
Tanya grabbed his arm. \u201cNo, I\u2019m sorry, please don\u2019t go. I know I\u2019ve got a big mouth. I\u2019ll stop, I promise.\u201d Her eyes pleaded.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright, but it\u2019s your turn to get the drinks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo problem,\u201d Tanya ordered a round. \u201cSo what do you do for a living Scott?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI work for an insurance firm.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tanya straightened up. \u201cOh interesting. That\u2019s a lot of responsibility. Is it stressful?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt can be, at times.\u201d<\/p>\n
The band began again. The singer\u2019s voice floated across the room as she did a rendition of Billie Holiday\u2019s \u201cI\u2019m a Fool to Want You.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan you believe Billie Holiday passed away three years ago?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReally? Did she die in \u201959?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah. She went too early.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was tragic.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe singer looks a lot like her actually.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scott turned to a woman in gold. She did have a striking resemblance to Billie Holiday. Same skin tone and figure. The lyrics seemed to pain her as she held herself.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what did you say you did?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA bit of this and that,\u201d Tanya sipped her drink. \u201cOh, look who it is.\u201d She jumped off her stool and ran into the arms of a man. He looked sharp in his shirt and trousers. The dim light played with his olive skin. He had a short beard and striking green eyes. His hands caressed Tanya\u2019s bare arms.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is Scott Holloway,\u201d Tanya led the man over. \u201cScott, this is Isaac, a friend of mine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNice to meet you,\u201d Scott shook his hand. Isaac smiled with his eyes. \u201cI should leave you two to it,\u201d Scott stepped away.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, please join us,\u201d Tanya begged again.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah chief, what\u2019s the hurry?\u201d Isaac led him to a table facing the band. \u201cI\u2019ll get us a round.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The three were laughing and half listening to the music. Empty glasses were crowding the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut wouldn\u2019t it be amazing to go to Paris?\u201d Tanya waved her hands. \u201cWalk along the boulevards and eat in fancy restaurants.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIsn\u2019t New Orleans exciting enough for you?\u201d Whiskey splashed onto the table as Scott waved his drink.<\/p>\n
\u201cI agree with Scotty here,\u201d Isaac slapped him on the back. \u201cGood, pure American values. That\u2019s what the world needs. Europeans are old fashioned and snooty. They\u2019ve all got something shoved up their asses.\u201d The two men stared at each other and began laughing.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou two are a pair of boys,\u201d Tanya lit a cigarette. \u201cYou have a couple of drinks, and all of a sudden you forget you\u2019re men.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d Isaac drew an arm around Tanya. \u201cHey, I\u2019ve got an idea for a bit of fun. How about we head down to Bourbon, it\u2019s gotta be more exciting than this joint.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Scott, Isaac and Tanya tramped down the street in the humid night. The setting sun cast a pink hue over the city. They turned onto Bourbon and were bombarded with sound and colour. Music blared; people sang and laughed; glasses clinked; dresses swished; feet stomped.<\/p>\n
They jostled through the crowd and passed clubs and bars. One place was bursting with people dancing to \u201cIt Don\u2019t Mean a Thing if it Ain\u2019t Got That Swing.\u201d The band was going wild as they tried to play above the raucous crowd. A couple doors down, a trumpet was breaking hearts with \u201cBlue Moon.\u201d Couples swayed under the dim light.<\/p>\n
The three drank, sang and danced until the moon shone overhead. They were sitting at a street corner. People were saying their goodbyes, others were kissing down side streets.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell boys. That\u2019s about as much fun as I can handle tonight,\u201d Tanya announced. \u201cAnd I need my beauty sleep. This pretty face takes work,\u201d she kissed Isaac on the cheek. \u201cGoodnight,\u201d a kiss for Scott. \u201cDon\u2019t do anything I wouldn\u2019t,\u201d she sang as she walked away.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s something else,\u201d Scott said.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe sure is,\u201d replied Isaac. \u201cWell, I should get going too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can give you a ride. My car\u2019s just up a couple of blocks away.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pair shuffled through the streets, Isaac supporting Scott. They made it to his car. Scott fumbled with his keys and dropped them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy don\u2019t you let me drive?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably,\u201d he hiccuped, \u201ca good idea.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Scott stumbled in the door to his apartment. \u201cHome sweet home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWow, what a place,\u201d Isaac whistled as he gazed around. There were brown sofas, a cream carpet, a walnut coffee table, and sleek countertops. \u201cIt looks like something out of a style magazine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just stuff I picked up here and there,\u201d Scott tried to put some ice into two glasses. It spilled over the countertop. He felt a hand on his lower back.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy don\u2019t you let me do that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Scott turned. \u201cYou\u2019re the boss, but don\u2019t be stingy on the whiskey.\u201d He staggered and fell onto the sofa.<\/p>\n
Isaac brought over the drinks.<\/p>\n
\u201cCheers,\u201d they emptied their glasses. Scott thought it tasted off and laid back as a warmth spread through him. He felt a hand touch his leg. Isaac was grinning. His hand moved up Scott\u2019s thigh until it was at his crotch. Scott\u2019s heart was thumping. A breeze came from the window; the curtain stirred. Isaac\u2019s lips were glistening. He brought his hand to the back of Scott\u2019s neck. The pair moved closer. Their lips met. Scott groaned. The other man\u2019s beard scratched his face.<\/p>\n
They moved into the bedroom. Scott fell onto his back, Isaac on top. A dizziness passed over him. He was sweating. The room was spinning. All he could see were two green eyes and a pearly grin peering down at him. Blackness shrouded his view as he passed out.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The alarm clock woke Scott. He arose, holding his head. A foul taste of stale alcohol lingered on his tongue. He noticed his safe was open. It had been cleaned out.<\/p>\n
\u201cJesus Christ.\u201d His stomach fell. He slammed the door and went out to the living room. There were clothes and glasses strewn across the floor. A note was laying on the coffee table next to his apartment keys. His car keys were missing.<\/p>\n
Sorry sweetheart. It\u2019s nothing personal. Just doing business. X<\/p>\n
He ran to the window; the car was gone.<\/p>\n
\u201cF**k,\u201d he held his thumping head in his hands, and picked up the phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cOperator. How can I direct your call?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPut me through to the Royal Street police station.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRoyal Street Police Department, what is your emergency?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve just been robbed,\u201d Scott explained about meeting Isaac and about his stolen money and keys.<\/p>\n
\u201cSir, if you had just met this man, what was he doing in your apartment?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell we were just\u2026 having a few drinks,\u201d Scott\u2019s mouth ran dry. \u201cLook, are you going to catch this guy or not?\u201d He was sweating.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell sir, you will have to come down to the station to file a report.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be right there.\u201d<\/p>\n
The phone clicked back into place. Scott wandered over to the bathroom, and showered. He shrugged into a shirt and combed his hair as he scrutinized himself in the mirror. There was a love bite on his neck. He traced his fingers over the tender skin, and shook his head. Never again.<\/p>\n
He stepped over the mess in his apartment. As he left, the door shut behind him; a silence echoed through the room.<\/p>\n