Almost dawn—we’d broken the ‘just-one-drink’ pact hours ago.
Hunger and alcohol had gotten the better of us so we queued up for a slice of pizza from the resident roach-coach.
“You are the most beautiful women I have EVER seen! Mmm!” He was tall, thin and seemingly down on his luck but offering us each a rose and trying to exude sincere charm.
My friend popped the last of her slice into her mouth and said, “Sorry man, we just spent our last dollar.”
Half way through his Barry White medley, she flashed that traffic-stopping smile of hers and continued, “I can’t take it. Man, you have the sweetest voice. Seriously, it’s like honey, but we seriously got nothin’.”
His face turned sour and he plucked the roses from our hands with the aggression of a purse snatcher and topped off our encounter with a misogynistic rant.
We snickered watching him strut down the block, all spit-and-vinegar and smirked as his sales pitch began again with another beautiful woman.
Author bio: Maria is the Founder and Editor of Maria Falvey…Often in an Accelerated Stall. It’s neither your usual travel blog nor standard short story anthology—not by any means. Taking on a unique and quirky view, Maria encapsulates events and observances from her experiences (abroad and in the ‘backyard’) into literary snapshots. Don’t blink, you might miss it!
Twitter: AcceleratedStal
Photo credits: roses: Lodian; man on street: Sem Vandekerckhove
Thanks a million for allowing me to guest post on Chicky Bus – the only thing better would be to play a round of Would you Rather on this site.
Maria recently posted..Haiku – Take Flight
You are very welcome–thank you!
By the way, just wondering where this particular story took place or if it’s more of a composite of a few stories/locales.
As for a game of Would You Rather…that sounds great–and know what? I’ve got one in the works as we speak. Might be up in a couple of weeks. Some pretty sick questions, too. He he he…
The only time I write fiction or composites is when I’m paid for ad creation.
Eye of the Beholder took place in Austin, Texas.
WYR coming soon?! Yay. The last time I really had to stop and think about my answers… you’re good at walking the grey line that makes that game so much fun.
Maria recently posted..Haiku – Take Flight
Thanks so much! This one will have you on the edge of your seat, I’m sure. There will be a gruesome food question included.
Austin Texas sounds like a great place to break the one drink rule.
northierthanthou recently posted..Uncommonday: Great Show, but Who is the Drummer?
Yes, it does!
Ha, Maria, this reminded me of a balloon-seller in Newport Beach, CA this summer. Great post and thanks for alerting me to Chickybus!
EWM
Emily McIntyre recently posted..Autumn Musings
Hi, Emily. Nice to meet you! Maria’s a great writer, isn’t she?
Hey, and yes she is! It’s so fun to stumble across other great writers in the wide world of the inter webs. Hope your day is exceptional! I’m meeting with a new client (fingers crossed) partway through, otherwise the usual running around like a chicken with its head cut off.
EWM
Emily McIntyre recently posted..Autumn Musings
Thanks so much, Emily! Hope your meeting went well, and I hear you re: that kind of running around. I feel like I do that way too much.
I think we have all had a few similar encounters – though yours sounds far more charming than most!
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