Player

Smooth jazz singing in the back... Two receptionists, Puerto Rican, giggling in front... The sky was a strong blue... Vents on the ceiling hissed... Double glass doors open and pull back.... He lies back on his couchy booth... Arms held horizontal on the back of his seat... Dim lights made everyone prettier... His heart is pounding... His stomach's already full... A waitress, 25, plump and in black German suit and short skirt... He orders the darkest red wine... Oak table... Flying knives.... Sizzling rice... And then a girl in flowing red dress breaks in... His heart collapses from front to back... The lights started to blind him.... His head deflated... She sambaed right over... Smooth left and right feet walking in perfect line... His drink splashed over in seconds... The girl thumped over onto a seat behind him... He just sat, ready for a seizure... The eyes all glow at him in the bar... The beers became haloes of light... Glasses clattered after glass... The wine was bitter...