"Did Keith give you that ring, Kathy?" Joni asked. "And is it what I think it is?"
The two 21 year old waitresses were waiting for drink orders at the Sam Glance Saloon, a restaurant and bar that featured a heavy handed Western theme. Both wore cowboy hats and plaid blouses with the three top buttons unbuttoned, as the manager's dress code required.
"Yes," said Kathy. "I know it isn't a big fancy diamond or anything, but it means we'll be getting married some day." She showed Joni the small pearl ring on her left hand.
"It was just a matter of time," said Joni. The two girls had been best friends since they were ten years old, and had both gotten jobs at the Sam Glance for the summer before their senior year in college. "It seems like the two of you have been a couple since, well, forever."
"That's true," said Kathy. She and Keith had fallen in love when they were fifteen, and had pretty much gone steady all through high school and in college too.
"Everybody knew that you guys would get married someday. Keith is such a sweet and caring guy," said Joni. "He's really the right one for you, I think."
"Mmm hmmm," said Kathy. "That's what everyone says."
Keith was probably the smartest person either Kathy or Joni had ever met. All three of them were in the same graduating class in high school, although Keith had skipped a grade somewhere along the way and so was a year younger. He was the valedictorian of their class, and had gone off to Harvard after that, while Kathy went to a small liberal arts college near home and Joni went to community college.
"You've been his only love, Kathy, ever since I can remember," said Joni.
"And he's been mine, too," said Kathy.
They got their drink orders and went back to the waitressing routine. Both girls were glad they had gotten jobs there so they could have these little conversations during their shift at work.
Kathy thought back to last night when Keith had proposed. Even though they had known each other forever, he was nervous and awkward, which Kathy found endearing. She had an inkling this might be coming, since they were both entering their senior year at school, and real life beckoned after that. Of course there was no question that she would say yes. He had always been her only love, and was wonderfully kind and considerate to her. He treated her like a princess, in fact, always the gentleman, whatever they were doing together.
He never took her for granted. Always asked her permission for things. Even when they would go out to Lookout Point in his dad's car, he would ask if he could kiss her, would ask if he could touch her. When she lost her virginity with him, he asked permission for that too.
"Have you guys set a date?" said Joni as their paths met at the bar for drink orders once again.
"No. We haven't really talked too much about that. You know Keith has been accepted at medical school. Johns Hopkins," Kathy said.
"Wow," said Joni. "You're going to be a doctor's wife."
"Not for some time though."
"Why is that? Can't you be married when he's at medical school?"
"No. He says it wouldn't be fair to me since he'll be so committed to studying and all. You know him."
"Yeah." Keith's academic dedication was pretty legendary in their crowd.
"And he says he doesn't want to have to rely on any income I might make to support him." Kathy was planning to graduate with a teaching degree in elementary education, and she figured at some point she'd be searching for a job teaching third grade or something.
Kathy turned to Joni with her eyes shining, "But when my wedding day comes, I want you to be my maid of honor."
"Omigod, this is so, so exciting," said Joni. "Of course I will. I can't wait. You are so lucky, Kathy."
The only problem now, Kathy thought to herself as she hustled from table to table, taking orders and serving, is Mom and Dad For reasons Kathy had never been able to understand, her parents never liked Keith. Maybe it was because he was so shy and withdrawn around them. Maybe it was because they didn't think it was a good idea for her to get involved with just one boy when she was so young. Or maybe they never got over that time they caught Kathy and Keith making out in the game room when they got home early from some social event. They would have had a fit if they knew Kathy had gone on the pill when she went to college. Of course they would have had a bigger fit if she had gotten pregnant, and Keith was too shy to buy condoms at the drug store.
As Kathy and Joni met at the bar once more, Joni said, "So, what do your parents have to say about this?"
"I haven't told them," said Kathy.
"Well, you're going to have to tell them sometime," said Joni.
"I know. I'll just have to find the right time."
"What about the ring? How are you going to explain that?" asked Joni
"My mom already asked about it this morning," Kathy said.
"Eagle eyes, huh?"
"For sure. I told her it was just a gift from Keith. That it didn't mean anything more than that. I even said we agreed to keep dating other people."
"Well, good luck with them not finding out," Joni said.
They retrieved their drink orders and walked separately into the dining room.
Later that night, after the waitresses' shift was over around at 10:30 pm, they sat down to relax with a couple of margaritas in the bar. The two friends did this pretty much every night. Keith was never able to join them, as he wasn't yet 21, and since he looked about 16 was sure to be carded.
A large man in his late thirties came through the door. About 6'5", his shaved head gleamed in the light. He had a black fu manchu mustache, and one ear was pierced, the earring a small silver horseshoe. He wore a black t-shirt that accentuated his pects, and the cut-off sleeves emphasized a pair of good sized biceps. Across his chest, white gothic letters spelled out "Pariahs."
The man looked around the room, saw that it was empty except for Kathy and Joni, and walked slowly, with a slight swagger, up to the bar, pulled out a stool and sat down just to Kathy's left.
"Bourbon. Rocks," he said to the bartender, putting a twenty on the bar. Kathy glanced at him sideways. She should feel his close presence towering over her, though he hadn't touched her.
"Thanks, buddy," he said to the bartender. Kathy thought how his voice sounded, well, commanding somehow in a way she couldn't really explain.
"You work here, honey?" he said to Kathy, after taking a long sip from his drink.
"No," she said flippantly, "I just like to wear these cowboy type clothes around," gesturing at her short white skirt and her plaid blouse with the three top buttons open. She and Joni had discarded their hats in the locker room earlier.
"Hey," she heard his low voice again, and then felt his large right hand on her wrist, gripping hard, "there's no call to be such a smartass, baby." His grip was tight.
"Stop, you're hurting me," Kathy said, looking at him full in the face for the first time.
He continued his grip for another couple beats, then abruptly released it. And finished his bourbon with another long pull.
"Thank you," Kathy said. Then after a couple moments of silence. "I haven't seen you in here before."
