Say Bye

After playing musical cars with Dave and the kids in Ardmore, I stopped at the Ramada Inn by the airport in Meridian. The Black Knight has a Ladies Night on Fridays. It has been my experience that

Ladies nights or not, as a single lady, I pretty much drink free at Oklahoma City bars. I've always disliked the fact they are titled Ladies Night. I know that ladies get the benefit of the drink specials but it bothers me that the ladies bring in the men who lay-in-wait for ladies who've had too much to drink.

Danny's band plays here some. I'd hoped they'd be here tonight so I'd know someone. I'm fond of being with the band and. Mary and I frequent wherever Danny is playing. One night in particular, I brought the house down and put a bright red hue all over Danny's face. He was talking to the audience from the stage between songs making a joke or trying to.

Danny asked the audience, "What is the difference between your girlfriend and a tuna fish sandwich?"

I chimed in loudly from the booth Mary and I were sharing with the band, "Nobody eats tuna fish."

The whole room went up in a roar. Danny turned bright red but accepted my answer and the laugh it brought him. I never found out what the answer was supposed to be.

Mary is in Dallas to meet with Don and some "bigwigs," the developers or money-men behind Summerfield. Like me, she was hired in Dallas and moved to Oklahoma City to take the job. I started as a receptionist in Dallas for a mortgage insurance company. They were opening a branch in OKC and sending one of their underwriters to service that community. They offered me the Office Manager Assistant Underwriter position to open and run it.

Danny's band isn't playing tonight and I don't see anyone I know, but it is early yet. I am facing a weekend alone and I'm, as seems to be my pattern, putting off starting same. I take a small table for two close to the bar by the window where I can see the activity on the freeway. The traffic lights are mesmerizing. I am a bit of a naturalist, not outwardly fond of a lot of what man has made, but electric lights, in streams of traffic, the twinkling lights of a cityscape or on a Christmas tree, are some of man's best. The bartender recognizes me. Before a waiter arrives, he leans over and asks if I want my usual.

"Yes, please, a "liquid sunshine.". is my answer.

Because the barkeep has taken my order, I don't have to explain to the waiter what is in a "liquid sunshine." I don't recognize the band. While warming up, several band members tip their hats in my direction. It is a courtesy move, a nod to the only obviously single woman in the bar, not one of recognition.

I'm into my third sunshine. The band is in full swing. The bar has filled up some. It seems it is a pretty slow Friday. Slow Fridays are the reason for having Ladies Nights. The hotel sits on the highway, near the airport. It has mostly a commuter clientele, businessmen who head home on Fridays. A Ladies Night is an attempt to bring in locals. Being on my third drink, I have one more coming. It will be my last. Thus far, it looks like tonight I am buying. The crowd is mostly ladies.

I am awaiting delivery of my 4th drink when three guys I had not noticed until now waved the waiter over to send me a drink. When my 4th one arrives and I'm told who bought it, I pick up the drink and toast them in the air as acknowledgment. This move is to size them up without staring. I want to discern if I want the drink to move into introductions. They seem to be in construction. They are still in their work clothes with cement on their boots. They are a bit rowdy for my taste. I'm guessing they have been drinking since lunchThey at least started by hitting the cooler before leaving the job site. It is not an opening I want to widen.

I motion to the barkeep for my bill. I am bending over, rifling through my purse for payment, when boots caked with cement step into my downward gaze. I look up. It is the blonde from the table that sent over my last drink.

I say, "Hello," in a curious and cautious tone.

This is not attention I am interested in, not tonight anyway.

He says, "Hi," offering me his hand to shake.

With the other hand, he begins to pull out the empty chair. I stop that move with my foot.

He offers,"Please, I'd just like to introduce myself."

"Hello, thanx for the drink. I'm just leaving." I retort, not moving my foot from the chair leg.

"I noticed. That is why I came over. Didn't want to miss the opportunity to meet you," he said, while lifting the chair up and over my foothold and sitting down.

The waiter arrives.

The disheveled, straight-from-the-job-site blonde boldly reaches for the check and says, "That's for me."

Nodding to the waiter that it is okay, I turn to this less-than-tidy blonde and say, "Thanks, now you have my attention."

I reach my hand over the table to shake his. He wipes his hand on his jeans a bit, then returns my reach. Less awkwardly than I would have imagined, instead of shaking, he pulls it up to his lips and kisses the back of my hand.

"I'm Charlie." He grins ear to ear.

"I'm Donna." I say pulling back my hand.

Then a common pickup line hits my ears. "What is a beautiful brunette, like you doing in here alone on a Friday night?"

I meet it with the most obvious of replies, "Am I alone?" He chuckles, "Got me. Beautiful and clever."

Being a bit of a snob, I'm surprised at his last comment. I'd have expected funny not clever.

He says, "Please stay awhile. Let me buy you another round. We, so we can talk. I'd love to talk a bit with someone besides my crew over there. If you don't want another drink, let's go for coffee at the Hotel Coffee Shop?"

I think to myself, "I don't want another drink. I am not that intrigued to know this guy. What else do I have to do tonight? Some coffee wouldn't be a bad idea before I head home. I say, "Okay, for a little while. I can use a cup of coffee before I drive home."

I reach for my bag at my feet and he quickly moves behind me to pull out my chair. He throws a wad of money on the table. I give a wave to the bartender then we stop at the bar to inform his sidekicks.

He tells them, "Say bye."

My guess is that Charlie is their ride. They stutter and stammer a little bit.

When Charlie raises an eyebrow, they greet me with "Nice-to-meet you. Goodbye."

We walk down the hotel walkway to the coffee shop entrance. Inside, seated, and coffee ordered, we begin the pull and tug of establishing conversation and getting to know one another.

Charlie puts up several red flags during our conversation. He has two children, about the same age as mine. In the middle of a separation, headed for divorce. He does, as I had surmised, work in construction. He is the boss. He owns and runs a cement business.

He again broaches the subject of why I'm out, in a bar, alone on a Friday night.

I pause, stir my coffee a bit, and say,. "I am divorced. My ex lives in Dallas. I was driving home from Ardmore tonight after dropping the kids off to go visit him for the weekend. It is a pretty regular run for me. As I was driving past on the highway, I thought, why not?"

It seems we are in similar places in life. He indicates his kids are with his wife, Jan, this weekend. He will pick up his son, Chuck, for ball practice tomorrow. Other than that, he is on his own for the weekend. He asks if we can get together later in the weekend.

He says, "I'd like to see you again. I'll pick you up, take you to dinner, a regular date."

I explain, "I don't have a phone. We'll have to solidify the plans now."

He says, "How about tomorrow night? Where do you live? I'll pick you up at 6:30."

I indicate, "I'll meet you at Chilli's on North West Highway. 6:30, in the bar. We'll play it by ear."

Meeting at Chilli's is calculated to allow me to get to know him surrounded by people I know and give me an easy exit if I decide I do not want the night to progress beyond the bar.

"Chilli's it is," He says while he stands and walks to the counter to pay the bill.

I head toward my car, he catches up and walks with me. He holds the door while I get in, bends over so we are eye to eye in my window and says, "It's been nice to meet you, Donna. I'll see you tomorrow night. Say Bye."

I'm both surprised and pleased that he doesn't attempt a kiss.