by James Fink
pulling his leg. No smile was offered. Jane just took a sip from her drink and looked around at the other people dancing, then at Doug and her friend. Another disaster.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t know you were a lawyer.”
“We’re not all cheaters and liars,” she said. “What about you? What do you do for a living?”
Benjamin had the sudden urge to disappear. He thought hard about what he should say. Should he lie and appear more interesting, or tell the truth and appear more sincere. “I’m actually in between jobs,” he answered.
“Oh? Maybe I can help you out. I’m do some vocational counseling. What’s your line of work?”
Here was the ultimate question Benjamin strived to avoid. He hesitated, but, like a good lawyer, she probably wouldn’t be satisfied until she got an answer.
“Is it really that bad? There’s nothing you could say that would shock me. I’ve heard it all. What, are you a fry cook or something?”
“I was a grocery clerk,” Benjamin said. As he said it, he knew he should have lied. He should have said he was something else, anything else. A cab driver or a gardener or something.
“You mean a bagger?” Jane said, putting a hand over her mouth while she giggled. “You put people’s groceries in a bag and bring them out to the parking lot?”
Benjamin ordered another beer and drank half of it in one sip. He excused himself and mumbled something about going to the bathroom. He grabbed Doug by the arm and motioned for him to follow. The bathrooms were dark there, with black fixtures and walls, but the lights were bright. His head spun lightly as his eyes adjusted from the darkness of the bar.
“What’s wrong with you this time?” Doug said, “I was making progress with Vicky, and you two seemed to be having a good time. You were making her laugh.”
“Are you kidding me? I’m dying out there.”
“You’re exaggerating. She’s laughing. She’s smiling. Even if she’s laughing at you, she’s having a good time. Just roll with it.”
“I made a joke about lawyers and it turns out she’s a lawyer. Then I told her what I do for a living.”
“But you don’t do anything for a living.”
“You’re not helping! It’s a disaster! I have to get out of here!” Benjamin’s head was hurting more and more.
“Just so we’re clear on this, morose boy, we’re not here for you. We’re here for me. Got it? You’re putting too much pressure on yourself. Let me tell you something, Benjamin. Jane is way out of your league. There is no way that you could have her.”
“So why did...”
“We’re not here for you. We can do you another day. Right now, this is for me. OK? You got that? Now go out there and keep Jane occupied while I get Vicky’s defenses down. When you see her dress over her head, then you can go home, OK? Now, I want you to get out there and go down swinging!”
Benjamin thought about this for a moment. “I guess it can’t get any worse,” he said.
Benjamin let Doug drag him back to Jane without a fight. Doug quickly resumed with Vicky where he left off. Then they headed out to the dance floor, leaving Benjamin alone with Jane. Benjamin started to feel a real migraine coming on. He rubbed the side of his head with his hand and put the half-full beer to his forehead.
“Are you OK?”
“I’ll be fine in a minute,” he said.
“Are you sure you’re OK?” The voice was different.
He opened his eyes, expecting to see Jane, but saw a different woman instead, dressed in white. He closed his eyes and opened them again. The woman in white was still there. “I’m just a little dizzy,” he said.
Jane was nowhere to be seen. This other woman had somehow taken her place. She was a small frail looking woman, about his height with thick dark hair. She wore a simple white dress that reminded him of old, black and white movies. In the first moments he looked at her, he could sense her gentleness and quiet beauty. Though the style of her clothes didn’t fit with the club, she seemed to belong there. And it may have been the alcohol messing with his head, but she seemed to have a glow around her.
“I’m OK now,” Benjamin said, staring directly into her eyes.
He gently put his hand in hers. “I’m Benjamin,” he said.
“I know,” she said with a giggle. “I heard you earlier.”
“I love your voice,” he said. “It’s so musical. Where did you come from?”
The woman in white seemed flattered by his unwavering attention, and he was suddenly at ease being in the club surrounded by strangers. They talked for a long time as the sounds of the music and the people around them seemed to fade. He talked about what he liked to do in the evenings, about his cat, about the way he admired people who weren’t afraid of conversation.
“You know,” she said. “You’re becoming one of those people who isn’t afraid anymore.”
“Only with you,” he said. “I’ve never felt this comfortable talking with someone.”
At that moment, Doug and Vicky came back from the dance floor, almost out of breath. “How are you two doing?” Doug said expectantly.
Benjamin stood up and whispered in Doug’s ear, “I think I’ve met someone special. You know, I mean special.”
Doug nudged him in the ribs. “I know what you mean, buddy. Jane’s a hottie.”
“No, I don’t think you understand...” Benjamin said. He was about to explain what happened to him, about the woman in white, but he looked over at where she had been, and there was Jane, smiling at him while she talked with Vicky.
“Whatever you said to her, it looks like it worked,” Doug said. “I’ll be shocked if you can actually pull this off, but you’re doing well so far.”
Doug grabbed Vicky’s arm and kissed her for an awkward amount of time. “Don’t wait up,” he said. Then they left, leaving Benjamin and Jane at the table.
Jane reached over and took his hand with both of hers. “I have to be honest, Ben,” she said. “I was ready to write you off as just another guy. But I’m having a really nice time.”
Benjamin was confused, startled because the woman in white was gone, and now Jane was suddenly very interested in him.
“I like that you’re honest about things,” she said. “This night is turning into something special.”
For Benjamin, the night was more perplexing than he was prepared for. The rest of it was a huge blur. He remembered dancing and more drinks, then a cab ride. He woke up the next day in an unfamiliar surrounding as darkness was slowly making way to brightness.
Suddenly he realized he was actually in Jane’s apartment. Her arm rested on top of his torso. The rest of her body was hidden under the silver satin sheets. Benjamin slowly removed her arm and placed it carefully it along her side. The smell of sex hung in the air. He studied her face, making sure she wasn’t the woman in white. He wished she was. Jane was pretty, but that other woman, that other woman. What was her name? He realized he didn’t know. She was more beautiful than anyone he had ever met, and he didn’t know her name.
Ordinarily, he would be making a fool of himself about now, pledging his eternal affection (if not love) for the woman who deigned to have sex with him. But he found himself wanting to leave Jane’s apartment as soon as possible. He’d never felt this way before, as if he’d gone home with the wrong woman.
Outside, a cool crisp wind blew across his face. The humidity of winter shivered through his body and condensation formed from his mouth. He started walking faster when the sunlight became stronger. He fumbled inside his jacket in vain looking for his sunglasses. Instead he found a piece of paper which he didn’t remember being there. It was small, probably ripped off a notebook and the color was already yellowing. He brought the note a few inches away from his face, blocking the sun. It fluttered in his hand as the wind whipped around him. The message in black ink was a bit smudged but he could make it out.
“Meet me at Essence restaurant.” The note was unsigned.
Benjamin did not
recognize the handwriting, but assumed it was Jane. He put the note back in his pocket, wondering why she would leave it unsigned.
He took a cab the rest of the way back home. Annie greeted him with cries of protest at being left home alone all night. At first he saw two cats, but then he shook his head, trying to alleviate the hangover. She cried again, this time as just one cat, and he recognized her hunger.
All was good when Benjamin set out a bowl of milk and some tuna for her, and then petted her across her back and between the ears. She purred, accepting his apology and affection. When Doug came back in, she stopped purring, though. She hissed at him and ran out of the room, her ears down.
“She’s glad to have you back,” Benjamin said sarcastically. “So where have you been?”
“The question is where have you been?” Doug said. “You still have the same clothes as yesterday and you look exhausted.” He made a fist and gave Benjamin a slow-motion punch.
“I think I had a little too much to drink. I don’t feel so good.” Benjamin said.
“You do look kind of pale. But then you’re always white as a ghost. But you had fun though didn’t you?” Doug said. “You know, I can fix you something for your hangover.”
“I’m aware of your hangover cure. I’d rather have the headache, thank you.”
“No. I’ve got a new one. I promise, no sour cream.”
Benjamin smiled in spit of his headache. “I guess I had fun,” he said. He felt the piece of paper inside his pocket while he sat down at the table.