Not to sound hackneyed and clichΓ©d, but sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. The events I am about to describe actually did happen to me circa 1981 and of course I took literary license and embellished here and there.
I was home from college because I couldn't get it together financially to go to Key West with my college friends on spring break.
"Oh well, I'll go my senior year" I told myself.
So I was stuck at home in New Jersey on a cold rainy March night. It was about 40 degrees and pouring rain with 20-30 MPH wind gusts. It was the kind of night when the damp cold pierced you right to the bone. I'd rather it snowed than been like this.
With nothing else to do I went to the local watering hole to meet up with my hometown buddies who I hadn't seen since New Year's Eve. I said hi to all my friends and made small talk about we thought our baseball team was going to do this summer. I made a special point to say hi to Marie the barmaid who I had known for years and was a good (non sexual) friend. As we were both complaining about the weather this woman came in out of the rain and pulled up a chair close to where I was sitting. She was an average looking woman but by no means could she be considered unattractive. She didn't have any make up on and she dressed very plainly and in muted colors. I was a regular at the bar but I couldn't place her face anywhere. I would later find out that none of my fellow regulars knew who she was.
She then finished what looked to be her last cigarette. She smoked, I smoked. Back in those days everyone smoked or so it seemed. As she fumbled through her purse looking for another smoke, I went over to her. Marie shot me a look of surprise and encouragement as I was usually not this bold.
"It looks like we smoke the same brand. I just opened this pack and you're welcome to have one or two if you'd like."
"Oh, thanks, I'd like that very much." she told me.
She then said she was new in town. I put the pack between us and ordered us a couple of drinks. She had a vodka tonic and I had a Jack and ginger. Over our cigarettes and drinks we talked about the crappy weather, the bar and general small talk. After I finished my drink, I became emboldened. I leaned over into her personal space.
"Do you get high?" I asked in a hushed voice.
Her eyes caught mine and she smiled.