ALAN LELCHUK
601
"Give him what he wants, Cecil."
My hands fidgeted in my pockets, and I replied, "Sometimes I do."
Foolish lie, which made me even more nervous.
"Here," Jackson said, handing me my soft fizzing drink, "take it easy a
while 'fore we get things going. This heah is Gennifer, with a 'G," he smiled,
indicating the younger woman, who smiled shyly from the couch. "And the
tiger is called Callie. You watch out for her now, she"ll be putting hair on your
chest fore you realize it!"
I
wasn't sure entirely of the meaning of that phrase, though
I
sensed
I
the spirit.
)
Callie waved her hand at Jackson and his humor, and reached out for
my hand.
Limply, I accepted her grasp.
"Don't you pay no attention to the man's jive. Nice to meet you.
What's your name, son?"
"Aaron."
She broke into a smile. "Like Aaron, making that golden calf, huh?
Come on over heah and join us, why doncha?" And she led me to the bro–
cade-covered couch, drink in hand. "That way we don't have to listen to the
bull that man throws." A good friendly smile, too, filled with flashy gold fill–
mgs.
Tucking my wallet deeper into the back pocket of my dungarees, I
took the half-dozen steps, and joined the two women on the worn, comfort–
able sofa. I sunk in, and down, deeply. Chuck Berry was now singing about
the faithlessness of his Maybelline.
Callie moved a bowl of pretzels and nuts closer on the coffee table, and
I took a few. I tried to refocus on my duty and purpose here, as she drawled
in a Southern accent, "Aint seen you heah before. First time?" I nodded, and
breathed
in
the pungent perfume.
"Oh it ain't too bad. Even jackson's all right, once you get past his
hooey! Right Gen?" "Yeah," the girl on my left agreed, gazing at me with
quick green-gray eyes. Patches of freckles on both cheeks added to her ado–
lescent, poignant look.
"Where are you from?" I asked
"Buffalo. Do you know it?"
"No."
That shy smile. "Not much to know." She lifted a drink, which looked
like Coca-cola with ice-cubes, and I wondered
if
she was old enough. I noticed
now the crucifix around her neck.
Jackson looming nearby, offered, "How bout a little movie folks until
our two other hands arrive?"
