A Thousand Word Story - The Bar
Gerry starts mixing Maggie’s gin and tonic as soon as she walks into the pub. “Sorry I’m late. Traffic.”, she says as she sits down next to Barbara. “Have you heard from Julie?”
“Not a word.” Barbara replies, sipping her Sauvignon Blanc. “She must have plans with Brice again this evening.”
Maggie nods in agreement. “Same old story. I don’t trust him. I can’t quite put my finger on it but there’s something not right about him. I wish there was some way to make her see that she can do better.”
“Hire a call-girl and set him up.” Gerry quips, setting the G&T down in front of Maggie. “She catches him with another woman, problem solved.”
He’s not serious, of course, but they are.
The following Friday, Julie bails on Barbara and Maggie again. “I’m done.” Barbara fumes as she relays Julie’s message to Maggie. “Brice needs a ride to the airport tonight and since he evidently has no idea how to use Uber, she’s taking him.”
“Well, there’s always the call-girl idea” Maggie smiles over at Gerry “Any idea where we can find one?”
Gerry sets down their round of drinks and puts his hands in the air. “No firsthand experience here, I’m afraid. But I’m sure the two of you can work it out.”
Monday afternoon, Barbara sends Maggie an urgent text. “Meet me at the pub right after work. You aren’t going to believe this!”
“Where’s the fire? I nearly ran over a guy being walked by his Golden Retriever getting here. I need a drink.” Gerry takes the hint and pours Maggie a double.
“I know where we can hire a call-girl. One of the guys at work used an escort service for his friend’s bachelor party. He gave me the number.’ Barbara thrusts a scrap of paper in Maggie’s hand. “Call it.”
“Me, call? What am I supposed to say? It’s no good hiring one if we don’t even know what we’re going to do with her.” Maggie folds the paper and puts it in her wallet. “Let’s come up with something first.”
Barbara swirls her wine. “We’ve got to get Brice to trust whoever it is. Might take more than one random encounter. Any idea where he hangs out when he’s not with Julie?”
Maggie thinks for a moment “She works most Saturday evenings at the restaurant. I doubt Brice’s is sitting home waiting for her. We should follow him next weekend.”
Gerry sets down their bill, laughing to himself.
Saturday night Barbara and Maggie wait in Barbara’s car, across the street from Brice’s building. “You sure this is the right place?” Barbara impatiently fiddles with the binoculars. “Even if it is, I won’t be able to make him out through these stupid things. They’re all out of whack.”
Maggie takes the binoculars from Barbara and adjusts the focus “There. Keep your eye on the parking garage. He’s bound to come out sooner or later.”
Barbara spots him. “There, in the black Firebird. Should have known he’d drive a sports car. You know what they say about men who drive cars with big engines. They have little...”
“Hush, Barb. We’ve got to stay close enough not to lose him, but far enough back so he doesn’t spot us.” Maggie buckles her seatbelt. “This isn’t exactly my idea of a fun Saturday evening.”
“Just remember, it’s for a greater good.” Barbara reaches into her bag, pulls out a packet and offers it to Maggie. “Gum?” as she follows behind the Firebird.
Brice pulls into a sports bar located in a sketchy strip-center. The place is packed, so they circle the parking lot, looking for a place to park. “Don’t lose him” Maggie worries as Barbara negotiates a parking space next to an oversized pickup.
“Where can he go? There’s nothing else open besides this dive.” Barbara touches up her lipstick in the mirror. “Might be one decent guy in the place.”
Maggie opens her door and looks around the parking lot. “Here? The lot’s full of pick-ups. You know what they say about men who drive big trucks. It’s to make up for their little…”
“Point taken.” Barbara slides out of the car adjusting her skirt.
They walk inside, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible while searching the darkness for Brice. It doesn’t take long for them to spot him at the end of the bar, beer in hand, laughing at what appears to be his own joke and surrounded by what could only be ‘regulars’. It’s obvious that he spends a lot of time here. Maggie and Barb find a spot at the opposite end, order drinks, tip generously and ask the busy bartender enough questions about Brice to determine that he’s there every Saturday night like clockwork.
While still at the bar, they formulate their plan to hire a call-girl to hit on Brice, as proof to Julie that he’s not the guy for her.
Maggie makes an appointment with the escort service for the following Saturday night, hesitating only a moment before authorizing the hefty fee on her credit card. Julie is a good friend and she’s worth it.
Neither Maggie nor Barbara slept much the entire week. Julie seemed to be busier than usual, so fortunately they didn’t hear from her, risking any second thoughts about backing out.
Once again, they follow Brice to the dive bar on Saturday, text an update to the service providing his location inside the bar as well as the color of his shirt, then settle in to wait.
The escort arrives on time, overdressed for the dive bar – any bar, for that matter, turning every head in the room as she walks up to Brice and kisses him deeply on the mouth. He seems pleasantly surprised to see her and as she turns towards them, Barbara and Maggie begin to realize that the escort is their good friend, Julie.
This explains why she’s never free to go out with them on Saturday nights.
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