I'd like to thank my new best friend for help with this story.
*****
"Another beer, Blake?" Phil, the BonSant Feed Company Rep', didn't wait for Blake to answer. He waived at the sexy waitress and she delivered two more beers. They were sitting so close to the stage, they were almost a part of the show.
"Gentlemen, we have a special treat for you tonight. So please, rise to attention and give it up for the Village People." The MC's last words of encouragement were drowned out as 'YMCA' blasted through the stereo. Out came the 5 Village People.
The 'Indian' looked like a real Native American, a deep tan colour and plaited glossy hair, perky tits strapped into a chamois bikini. Her fringed tribal boots had 5 inch heels. Blue feathers dangled from her ears. Three more blue feathers protruded from a leather headband. She paraded, stage front.
"Young man, there's no need to feel down.
I said, young man, pick yourself off the ground.
I said, young man, 'cause you're in a new town."
The chamois bra landed on Blake's table. Blake screamed with plenty of zeal, "Pocahontas, I'm gunna marry you!"
"Body, wanna feel my body,
body, baby, such a thrill, my body
Body, wanna touch my body."
The Indian squaw was hot but the next girl on the stage was a goddess. So shiny black, with Police Issued shorts clambering up her arse. Pointy white boots and aviator sunglasses. The ultraviolet strobe made her shorts glow and her black skin disappeared in the purple, white light. Her costume gyrated and her hands slapped playfully at her butt. Handcuffs danced on the rhinestone Sam Browne belt. Stars like Sherriff's badges, sparkled on her jet black breasts.
Blake screamed, "Arrest me baby, I've been a bad boy!" The sales rep, laughed. The laugh wasn't genuine, it just acknowledged Blake's enthusiasm.
Blake woke feeling like shit. It had been a big day. Meetings. More Meetings. Dinner, the casino and the Strip Club. Blake had lost about ten grand on the tables. His lucky number was 13, it didn't come up once.
Who cares, the feed company had agreed to back him. They'd put up the money for the second, and perhaps a third farm, if he continued to use BonSant products exclusively. Blake didn't feel bad about the 'lock in' contract, he'd need the feed anyway, 50, 000 more chickens would need a lot of feed. Blake trusted the BonSant team, on paper the deal looked great. All being well, he and Angie could manage another interest free loan, that is, if the price of chicken meat didn't fall any lower. Anyway, he'd have to trust the Marketing guy, Phil had sent the hookers to his suite.
Blake climbed into his Jet Ranger III, flying this baby down to Vegas had been fun. The chopper was his pride and joy. It was worth the best part of $800,000, all financed through BonSant. Vegas had been a blast, strippers, hookers, roulette, and blackjack. Now it was time to get back to the farm, he and Angie had work to do - screwing the neighbours.
-o0o-
Tamsan slammed the hood of the gray Prius, "Goddamn rental..." she mumbled before kicking the desert dirt, sending up clouds of red dust.
She looked down the empty highway, then sighed and shook her head, knowing full well not many traveled on this 'shortcut.' She climbed back into the car, pushed the hazards on, and reclined back in her seat. Nothing to do but wait.
She glanced to the backseat and eyed her duffle bag, packed to the rim, with a broken zipper. Funny, the one thing she took into her relationship with Eric was the only thing she managed to grab on her way out. Hell, after ten years and all I have to show for it is the same broken bag.
She watched the white sun climb higher into the afternoon sky. Two black hawks caught her eye as she leaned in closer to her windshield. She watched them, envying their freedom, with their wings spread wide, gliding effortlessly overhead, in a circle, before diving down. She tried her phone again. Still nothing, no bars, no signals, no cell towers for miles. She slapped the steering wheel in frustration, Aunt Sue would be worried.
A red V'dub Beetle, pulled over onto the shoulder and stopped behind the dead Prius. A young Asian girl climbed out of the car. "Excuse me, are you okay?"
Tamsan rolled down her window, "Hi, yes, yes, I am fine," she said with a slight smile. "However, it seems the Prius is not so well." Tamsan opened the door and stepped out. "My phone does not have a signal..." she said sheepishly, as she glanced down. "I am really grateful that you stopped. I hate to ask, but could you drive me up a ways? I think there is a town..." Tamsan, kicked at the dirt and bit her lip before looking up to gage Miki's expression.
"Sure, I can take you, hop in," Miki said, smiling. "Grab your bags," she added over her shoulder as she walked toward her car."
"Thank you," Tamsan said as she grabbed her bag, "I honestly cannot thank you enough." She locked the vehicle and followed Miki to her red Volkswagen.
"Wow, I cannot tell you how grateful I am!" Tamsan gushed as Miki started the engine. "I thought I'd be stuck out here forever."
"It's nothing really. You looked so forlorn, stranded in a Prius. By the way, I'm Miki." She tossed a sideways smile to Tamsan as she pulled onto the road, heading west.
"Really nice to meet you, Miki, I'm Tamsan, but my friends call me Tam."
"So, where are you heading to, Tam?" Miki asked.
"To the San Joaquin Valley. My aunt has a small farm, I thought I would stay with her for a while..." Tamsan trailed off and looked out the window, deciding not to add that she had nowhere else to go.
"But you don't have to drive me all the way to San Joaquin, just to the nearest town. I wouldn't want to ask you to drive me so far."
"It's no trouble," Miki said. "Besides, I am on my way back to UC Berkeley."
"No way!" Tamsan shrieked. "Berkeley. That's just too weird. I was at Berkeley, what's your major?"
Miki looked at her as though Tam, was from another planet. "I'm not a student, I'm an Associate Professor, Political Science."
"This is getting weirder by the second. I have lots of friends still at Berkeley, in Political Science." Tamsan rattled off a few names. Miki and Tam gossiped about University life, Miki told Tam a few stories about some of Tam's old lecturers, not much had changed at Berkeley.
"Miki, I still can't get a signal on my phone, can we make a stop? I probably should tell the rental company that the Prius is dead? Would you like coffee, a drink or something to eat?" Tam liked this spunky associate professor, she was fun, chatty and she drove a stick shift like a pro.
"OK. I know a place, it doesn't look the best, but it's good." Miki turned up the Bug's archaic radio. Katrina and the Waves. Tam couldn't help herself, she had to join in.
" Mm, yeah
I used to think maybe you loved me, now, baby, I'm sure
And I just can't wait till the day when you knock on my door
Now every time I go for the mailbox, gotta hold myself down
'Cause I just can't wait till you write me you're coming around
Now I'm walking on sunshine, whoa..."
Miki, looked at Tam. "You really are an awful singer."
Tam laughed, she wasn't offended at all. It was true she was an awful singer.
As the evening sun burned orange and began to dip into the Pacific, Miki pulled into a greasy-spoon diner on the outskirts of Los Angeles.
"I hope this is okay, this place has amazing omelets and steak fries," Miki said, cheerfully, grabbing her oversized purse.
"Hang on Miki, I have a signal."
Miki caught the end of Tamsan's conversation, "...well that's just dandy, you can't get me another car until tomorrow. Great, what am I supposed to do? Bed down in the back of a Prius? What! You will pay for one night's accommodation and dinner? Thank you, that is generous."
A happy Tamsan looked at the run-down building with the burned out letters. Instead of blinking "Mel's Eatery" in neon pink, it flashed and stuttered, "Me ' Eatery." Tamsan could not help but feel this was some type of omen. Tonight she promised to enjoy herself, a free bed and a dinner with an Associate Professor. Tonight she will eat meat, something she had given up long ago, one of the sacrifices she'd made to have Eric's love.
Miki was already standing on the sidewalk under the buzzing sign, smiling as she held the door, ushering Tamsan inside.
Tam said, "Good news. The rental company will pay for a hotel, and I get a new car in the morning."
The tall blond and the tiny Asian, stood together, side by side in front of the hostess podium. The smoky smell of bacon enveloped them as they waited to be seated. Miki spoke excitedly about the menu and how long this shambles of a restaurant had been in business. Finally, the hostess escorted them to a booth in a forgotten corner.