When we walked into the bar, I noticed Swede--he’s the husband of the owner--the cook of Norwegian derivation whose specialty is Italianate cuisine, was working this evening. He saw us at the same time, grimacing at me, and smiling at her.
He shoved the waitress aside and come over to take our order.
“So…..I heard you had a lady barber last weekend; how was she?â€
I ignored the query and ordered my usual, a hamburger well done, pressed down hard on the grill so as to squeeze out every drop of grease, french fries cooked on the grill instead of in the fryer, and a side-dish of sour cream.
We were at the big round table where all everybody was--the
femme, her two friends, the property caretaker and his wife, the business partner--and Swede went over to her to take her order. But rather than simply standing there, pad and pen in hand, he pulled up a chair so as to sit closely beside her and discuss each item on the menu.
She finally decided upon
insalata caprese, strolghino, agghiotta di lumache, buccellato, grissini torinesi, gnocchi di semolina, penne all'arrabbiata, spaghetti alla carbonara, risotto di seppie alla veneziana, acciughe fritte in pastella, impanata di pesce spada, cotechino friulano, asparagi bianchi e verdi, formai de mut, ricotta affumicata, and for dessert,
torta caprese.
Swede beamed. As he passed me, his back being turned to her, he cupped his hands and extended his arms out from his chest, grinning and silently whistling.
There was much chit-chattery and gib-gabbery and mumble-jumbery going on, but as it was too many people, I didn’t bother trying to decipher anything that was being said.
The business partner and I found ourselves being shoved further away as others came into the bar, took chairs, and made places for themselves at our table.
Finally I said to him, “you know, this is really odd. This is Monday evening. Mondays here excepting during football season make a nursing home at midnight seem lively and animated. Why do you suppose this time, though, the place is packed?â€
“Maybe they’re coming in to look at something--er, see somebody,†he said.
- - - - - - - - - -
When she got up in the morning--she’d taken the news of being delayed here one day further rather
too well, I thought--she poured herself a cup of coffee and came out to the back porch to join me.
I was sitting there smoking a cigarette, but instead of my usual nocturnal unattire, was covered from head-to-ankle in a union suit, with long underwear underneath.
“We need to talk,†she said.
“I get the impression you resent having me here, but I was invited to be here, and it’s not my fault there’s a delay in getting the car fixed.â€
Oh, no, I assured her; “it’s not your fault, and this is the only place you could be.
“But I on the other hand get the impression--it’s rather hard to miss, madam--that you don’t like me very much, despite that I’m the only person around here who’s treated you with respect, keeping my eyes off your body, and appreciating you for your mind instead.
“You know,†I said, snuffing out my cigarette, “you don’t have to
like me, but you could at least be indifferent to me, rather than hostile to me.â€
“Oh, but I do like you,†she said; “I like you very much.â€
Being a primitive, of course she was lying; it’s second nature to them.
“Well, whatever,†I said, “but I need to tell you something.
“Remember Romeo, from last night?†I was hoping she hadn’t gotten
too tanked, because it was important that she remember Romeo, which is his nickname, not his real name.
“I know Romeo like the back of my hand,†I told her; “and while Romeo’s a good friend of mine, I need to warn you about him.
“Romeo’s one of the ranch-hands who works across the road, and keeps beer in one of the refrigerators in the garage here, for days when it’s hot. He’s unmarried, and makes good bucks because he’s a hard worker. Also, women tend to be attracted to him.
“But let me tell you, Romeo’s no good for women. He’s a tomcat, who uses women once, and then drops them. ‘A woman’s got one shot with me,’ he says, ‘and if she doesn’t pass the first time, there’s not going to be a second time.’
“No woman’s ever had a second time with Romeo, none’s been good enough for him, he says.
“Romeo’s a nice guy, a real charmer, but when it comes to women, he’s a real rectal aperture.
“He wants women only for their bodies, nothing more.â€
“Oh, but you’re wrong,†she contradicted me; “he was admiring my mind all last night.â€
She’d been drunk out of her gourd last night; she had no idea.
“In fact, we’re going out again this afternoon, because he wants to talk more.â€
I arched my eyebrows, saying nothing.
to be continued