The first time I saw her, she seemed to be alone. I was up on stage, my old electric guitar making sounds as close to music as I could produce. Nothing really out of the ordinary except that she was younger than most of the rest and very well dressed in an expensive looking blouse and skirt. This was a working class bar, jeans and pullovers were the usual.
She sat at the bar, normal stuff there, for some reason my music seemed to attract the ladies that looked a bit more like the bored 40 something housewife type. The ones who came in alone usually sat at the bar, some kind of defense against the jerks with their hats on backwards that hung out in there, too.
I continued doing my best to stay on key to the song I was pretending to play, glancing down at the open book I kept on the podium nearby so I wouldn't forget the words.
Making a living playing and singing in bars is a tough life, but I was determined. I remember asking for work from the nightclub owner, I call him "Papadoc" to this day. His name was George Papadopolous or something like that, I couldn't spell it then and I can't now, hell, I couldn't even pronounce it.
"So you play good?" he asked, in a deep Greek accent.
"Yes." I lied through my teeth, keeping a straight face.
"Ok. $20 and a meal."
Hell, I would have taken $10, food was a plus.
So there I was, picking away, belting out all of the hits of the day. Somehow my style seemed to fit his clientele. It didn't hurt that I was young and cute, hair down to the middle of my back. I wore a nice shirt open halfway down my chest, my fake Gold chain would flicker and gleam in the light.
The housewife types would line up at the bar and watch me all night. I figured out quickly that this was a mill town, lots of husbands worked swing shift, thus the women.
Of course women bring men right behind, the men plied the ladies with drinks, old Papadoc loved that.
I finished up my set, took a break. I was finishing up a glass of ice water when an older man walked in. He stood at the doorway for a moment as his eyes adjusted to the darker room.
I was surprised when he headed for the pretty young lady I had noticed, plopped down on the barstool next to her. I thought at first he must be her dad but she smiled and gave him a kiss that sure as hell wasn't one a daughter would give her father.
Well, not in my world, anyway.
It wasn't long before their conversation seemed to get animated, he waved his hands a lot. She seemed to be resistant to something he was saying. I couldn't hear any of it, but it was enough out of the ordinary that I noticed it.
Then she turned and looked at me, caught my eye. I nodded, she smiled and turned back. Nothing really, but something rang a little bell deep in my mind, I had a feeling that I was the subject of their discussion.
I wandered back up on the stage, slipped into some Creedence stuff for the first part of my last set. That usually got a few folks dancing as it was late in the evening, time for the guys to make their moves on their choices for the evening. Then finish up with a few softer cuddle songs and my work would be done.
Fun stuff to watch, there was always lots of antics. I got a kick out of hands roaming over female bodies, first getting pushed away, then more and more would be allowed. With just a dab of practice, anyone could tell who was going to score and who wouldn't.
Most nights I more or less had my choice and knew it, but I was planning on some chow and hitting the sack. It was on my 3rd and last set for the week, I already had the three $20 bills in my pocket and had downed the greasy burger and fries earlier, but I was still hungry. I was playing at a wedding reception the next day in a local park (yeah, I know but it paid $30). Hawaiian theme, they told me. So I had to practice, having lied through my teeth again when they asked my if I knew any Hawaiian tunes.
My gear was stored, ready to load it up when the old guy walked up to me.
"We like your music."
"Yea, thanks."
I gave him a big smile, compliments are something every musician likes.
"We thought you might join us at the house, play a few songs?"
Odd request, new one for me.
I started to refuse, he interrupted with "$50 do it?"
Yea, it would.
"OK. What do you have in mind?"
"Oh, a couple of hours, we are having a little party at home."
"Party?"
Hell, it was 2 O'clock in the morning.
"It's just us" he said, reading my thought.
What the hell, for $50 I would sing rock and roll in a Cowboy bar.
Nice thing about small towns, everything is close. Their place was no exception, it was only about a mile. I was there and set up in no time, still unsure about what this was all about.
He introduced the lady as Julie, first time I heard her name. His was Harold. Once inside the house I looked a bit closer, this really was an odd couple. Julie was maybe 30 or so, Harold was 65 if he was a day.
They poured drinks, then plopped down an a nearby couch, watching me expectantly.
I was suddenly uncomfortable as hell. I have played impromtu's before, so I clicked on the equipment, strummed a chord to test the tune.
"Any requests?"
That always works. Well, it works with a group, you just pick the ones you know, that convinces everyone you can play anything.
The first half dozen he mentioned I had never heard of. Finally he hit one I knew, I went to work. I relaxed quickly, it was a lot like practicing at home.
I was in about the 3rd piece when Harold leaned over and whispered something to Julie, she got a funny look on her face but got up and left the room. I just kept playing.
Julie was back in minutes, she had changed into a white robe, she was holding it firmly against herself. She sat back down next to Harold, acting a bit tense. There was a glimpse of a bare leg, which she quickly covered up. He put his arm around her shoulders, began to rub.
I flipped through my book, picked a number, began again. Harold was still rubbing, but now he seemed to be slowly tugging at the robe. Each time he rubbed her shoulder from her neck out, the robe would gap open a bit. Julie would reach up and tug it back, he then would rub a bit and push it back open.
It wasn't much, but the top of one breast peeked a couple of times. Harold got a bit more insistent, Julie got a bit more resistent, I was getting a bit confused. He leaned over and whispered something in her ear, she blushed profusely but stopped tugging the robe back.
In short order, he had half of her left breast exposed, her face was bright red and she was making a point of not looking at me.
Not knowing what to do, I just kept playing.
Harold reached across with his right hand and slipped it inside her robe, obviously fondling her breast. Julie just sat there, I was beginning to turn pink now. When he took his hand away, her entire left breast was exposed.
She just sat there.
I looked, she was nice sized but not large, the rosy tip of her nipple was a full contrast to the snow white skin surrounding it. There was a trace of sag, and I could see another hint of a few extra pounds on her abdomen through the gap in the open cloth.
I finished the song.
"Do you folks wish to be left alone now?"
"No, quite the opposite." Harold replied, looking directly at me.
He reached over and opened the top of Julie's robe completely, baring both breasts. She had a pained expression on her face but didn't resist.
"Isn't she beautiful?"
"Uhhh...Yea, she sure is."
Harold reached down and tugged at the wide belt she wore around the outside of the garment. Her hands came down to try and stop him, but she gave up quickly. She blushed even more furiously as he opened the robe at her waist.
Her full dark bush came into view, she certainly didn't shave at all. She had her thighs mashed together tightly, her head turned away, lips pursed.
Confused and not sure what if anything was expected of me, I slipped into another tune. Harold continued stroking her, his fingers probed periodically at the mass of pubic hair but she wasn't giving an inch.
Finally he reached across and placed his hand on her side just above her hip, pulled her towards him. She shifted slightly, her legs parted just a little, she buried her face in his neck, obviously embarrassed.
"Isn't she beautiful?" he said again.
I nodded.
His hand then dropped to her groin, he said something in her ear. I saw the moment she finally gave up, letting him part her legs a bit. His finger found her sex and she shivered, still keeping her face buried against his neck.
I was getting the idea that he wanted to show her off. I had heard of things like this, even ran into a few nasty ladies from time to time. This was different.
Harold reached behind and slid the rest of the robe from her body, now she had nothing at all between her body and me.
I stopped playing.
He pressed her back against the couch, lifting one leg and setting it farther over. I watched as the slight little roll of extra flesh around her waist flattened out. She really was a pretty thing, my concern was she seemed unwilling.
Then she turned her face, her eyes caught mine. She seemed to be searching to see what my reaction would be. Harold simply continued stroking her body.
"Come touch her."
"I...."
"It's all right, she likes it."
She didn't really seem to like it.
I don't know why I did, I should have just gotten up and left. But I set my instrument down carefully, got up and walked the few feet to the couch.
Julie was leaned back on the couch, naked, legs spread. Her expression was fathomless. I reached out as he directed, put my hand on her breast gently. It was soft, the skin felt smooth as silk.
"Down here." he said, a catch in his voice.
I looked to where his fingers pressed around her upper thigh, almost holding her legs open. I reached down, let my fingers stroke upwards and over her mound. She was damp, the slippery folds buried between the mass of hair came visible as I pressed my fingers against her.
"Feel her inside." Harold said, the same catch in his voice.
I placed the index finger of my right hand against her entrance, pressed. It slid right in, I could feel the little ridges of the upper portion of her. She was watching me, her eyes now showed amusement. I let my thumb rub upwards against her clit, it felt like a tiny pea, hard and firm. Her mouth worked slightly as I did so, no sound came out.
I sensed a rustling, realized Harold was removing his lower clothing. He lifted himself, slid up and on top of her body. I had only a glimpse of his erection, it wasn't huge but he was firm. He entered her in one smooth motion, I retreated to my stool.
Picking up my guitar, I played a soft instrumental as Harold worked Julie's body. He lasted a surprisingly long time, I rolled the song I was playing over and stretched it into a second bar.
