Anybody who has ever moved knows what its like to walk through a new town for the first time. When you don't know any of the street names, or how to get where you're going. I knew my way from home to work, and from work to home. Since I was a small town girl who dropped like a bomb into the big city, I couldn't even find the grocery store, or a place to get something to eat.
I wasn't thinking about where I was walking, my head was spinning from the sounds of traffic and smells of exhaust when I bumped into her. Spun her slightly sideways on the sidewalk. I fell to my knees, I never had much coordination.
"Watch where you're going." She said it rudely, but extended a hand to help me up. Once I was standing I watched as she looked me over, head to toe. I returned the gesture, she was muscular, short and a little stocky. Built like a football player, female edition. Cowboy boots on her feet, flannel shirt buttoned up the collar and tucked neatly into her knee-stained jeans.
"I'm really sorry. I'm new in town, and trying to find a place to get a bite to eat. Do you know of anywhere?" I reached for my hair mindlessly, twirled it around my finger.
"Do you have time to sit and eat? I know a little diner on the outside, atmosphere on the inside place about two blocks from here."
"Sounds perfect. How do I get there?"
"Well, actually, I was thinking I'd join you. Pay you back for knocking you on your butt." She started walking, I stood there nervously, unsure of whether to follow her or not. "You coming?" That question was answered. We walked in silence, neither of us knew what to say. All of the "don't talk to strangers" warnings didn't matter anymore, we didn't care. I knew instantly that something was too right with this girl. I felt too at home, so at home I stepped out into the street without looking. "Watch out!" She reached for my hand, interlaced our fingers and held on. "What are you doing? Look at that traffic! I don't know if you think you're Moses, or Jesus or whoever the hell parted that river. But you aren't him. You could've gotten yourself killed."
"I was, I'm sorry." I looked down our hands, she was still holding on. I wish I'd never looked, the fact that I noticed made her nervous, too nervous to hold on. Traffic slowed and we crossed in silence, as a matter of fact we didn't speak another word until we were seated at the restaurant. "I just realized, I'm eating lunch with you, and I don't even know your name."
"Brandy for you Shane?" The waitress rubbed her hand along the stranger's shoulders, pressed her breasts into her back.
"My usual Julie, and for you?" Shane's eyes locked on me while she pushed the skanky waitress back.
"White zin, and a soup and salad special." Julie took our menus and walked away. "You have a usual here, Shane?"
"You know my name now. And I still don't have yours."
"Shera, unless I'm working, then I'm Sparrow."
"Stage name?"
"Floor name." Julie placed our drinks in front of us, slammed my glass down a little rougher than normal. "I'm sorry, is that your girlfriend or something?"
"Or something." She sipped from her brandy, tapped the glass with her fingers a few times just to make noise. "What do you do for a living?"
"I dance, I'm a floor girl at the nightclub by Domino's. I stay up all night, bring people drinks, get people to dance and run up tabs. You can come by sometime if you want. I might even dance with you." I laid my hand on the table. "What about you?" I took a large swig of my wine, not ladylike, but calming. "How do you make enough money to be known by name in a place like this?"
"No questions about me." She grained the last of her brandy. "I would however, love to see you dance sometime."
"I work tonight." She finally took the invitation, scaled her fingers over my palm.
