BLACK ROSE by squirrels

Why is it that cities are lonely places? When you live near 3.5 million other people and yet you might as well be stranded on some remote island for all that anyone else cares. We are trained to not make eye contact and to mind our own business. We tend to keep to our own familiar neighborhoods and talk to the same people day in and day out because it's safer.

So why did I find myself wandering around a neighborhood I hardly knew on a bright sunny, cloudless day, when I should be at the lake front, sprawled out on a towel? I dunno. Call it wanderlust. Call it fate. But here I was, glass and chrome towering above me, bars and restaurants stretched out in front of me in an endless buffet.

I had passed by several of these establishments during my hike that day. Walked by plenty of yuppies in their business suits having their liquid lunches, being ignored as I passed, but feeling their eyes on my back.

"They are looking at your hair." I told myself. <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--> <!--[endif]-->
"Riiight..."


It's not that I didn’t like the attention. Don’t get me wrong. Every woman likes to feel wanted, but this wasn’t a "hey I'd like to date her" moment and more like a "I'd really like to fuck that one while my wife sits at home with the kids" moment. It was creepy. Suuure don't look me in the eyes...but my tits...or ass, no problem.

I shook myself out of my thoughts (self pity? Moi? Never!) in time to notice that I was standing in front of a strange little bar? restaurant? Slightly shabby, but maybe that was the new trend. It sat on this street of shiny wanna be gourmet restaurant with their fancy micro brews and their signature cocktails, not pretending to be anything but what it was-- a place to eat and drink.

Or so I thought.

I looked up at the name "Black Rose" and thought to myself "Hell, why not. You only live once."

I opened the door of the Black Rose and stepped in, pausing in the doorway to blink owlishly as my eyes adjusted to the interior gloom. The sun beating at my back and the coolness of the interior at my front. A voice from behind the bar called out in a faint New York accent. "You in or out girl? Make up your mind but either way close the damn door."

I jumped and let out a small "eep" then felt foolish and turned closed the door and walked to the bar. I'd like to think at that moment that I had made a good impression on the person that was soon to be an important part of my life, but after tripping over two chairs and almost missing the barstool because my eyes still weren't adjusted that was doubtful.

I took a seat at the bar and eyed the bartender. She was not a typical "Chicago" beauty. She was tall, blonde hair to her shoulders. She was wearing leather chaps and a leather corset. (No wonder she wanted the door closed to keep the heat out)

There was also a hint of roughness around the edges- more leather, than lace-- more bramble than flower. She looked me straight in the eyes as if assessing my nature and I flushed uncomfortably.

I heard her say something, but was so lost in my assessment of her that I didn’t really "hear" what she said. She slammed a coaster down in front of me and said.

"Did you come here to drink? Or to stare?"

Bright red blossomed over my face and I opened my mouth several times before words would come out.

"Erm, ahh, umm.. " (good start, making sounds at least)

"Yes! I did. I did come for a drink." I said, inside cringing because of how this was beginning.

She looked at me, amusement playing across her face and she tilted her head as if to say "Aaaaaaaand?"

I flushed more, took a deep breath and said "Vodka, straight up." (Yeah! A sentence)

She chuckled and went to the back and let me gather my scattered thoughts.

Oh my God. What was wrong with me? I'm smart and certainly capable of speaking in complete sentences, yet here I sit like a fool.

I was brought out of my musings by a plate of food being shoved under my nose. I looked up at her and she said shortly,

"Food first vodka second little one." I opened my mouth to argue but that was stopped cold by the look on her face. Of course, during this pause my stomach decided to grumble loudly, betraying me further.

"Thank you...?" I said. Deciding (wisely) that arguing would do me no good.

"Ma'am." She said.

I stuttered a little.. "Wha at?".

She said "Thank you Ma'am"

Ooooooooh..of course. I thought to myself. "Yes. Thank you Ma'am." And I smiled up at her.

"Good girl." She said and walked away to tend to the few other patrons.

I sat there eating my cheeseburger, and wondering what just happened. I would soon find out that this was just the beginning of my lessons.