Page 14
Story: Twin Tempt
Under a neon sign for Miller beer with a NASCAR team, there is a giant, waist-high tub of ice. The dark glass necks of beer bottles poke out among the glittering cubes, looking sort of like a sea of messages in bottles, floating.
She holds her hands out like a game show hostess. “All right, this is your station, beer girl.”
“Yeah, this looks like the place,” I agree, finally feeling like I am getting my bearings.
“So, you have your Budweiser, Bud Light, Miller, Miller Light, Coors Light, and PBR over here. Then you got your twenty-ounce cans over here. Got it?”
“Got it.”
“When the bar gets busy, people will come over and ask you for whatever. If they ask for a shot or a mixed drink, you gotta send them to me. But if it is just beer, bottles are five bucks, cans are seven.”
“Okay. Got it.”
“There is a tip jar, but you’ll end up with a lot in your pockets too. That apron is gonna come in real handy.”
“Okay, understood,” I nod.
“Now, you stand over there,” she points, stepping aside.
Obediently I position myself behind the giant tub and lean on it. She takes a step back and squints at me, tipping her head to the side before finally breaking into a smile.
“You look good… Tammy!”
I smile back, shrugging innocently as I survey my new bounty of icy beers.
“The busboy will keep you stocked with ice and fresh bottles. So that’s it! Any questions?”
Shaking my head, I remind myself that it’s two hundred dollars. Two hundred easy dollars. And we are already underway. My dad always says there’s no point in changing horses midstream.
No problem. I can handle this horse.
“And what are you going to do?” I ask her as she begins to lean away.
She gestures over her shoulder. “Oh, I will be behind the bar. You know. Just the usual stuff. Serving up burgers and fries. Shots and shots and shots. Friday night at Sweeney’s. You know.”
I smile blandly.
She looks around for a few more seconds then finally shakes her head in theatrical frustration.
“Okay, there is one more thing,” she finally admits.
“One more thing?” I repeat sweetly. “Like what? What kind of thing?”
She rolls her eyes. “Stop playing so innocent,” she sniffs. “You have probably heard about the lingerie show, right? It’s really not a big deal. Everybody acts like it is a big deal but it is not a big deal.”
“Okay... Want to fill me in?”
She looks around distractedly. “Just about nine o’clock, the other bartenders and I just kind of circle the bar. We walk around. Guys tip us. The music gets really loud. Not a big deal.”
“Oh, you just circle the bar? Like this? Just walking around? For tips?”
She narrows her eyes at me. I smile back.
“Is this where the lingerie part comes in?” I continue, determined to drag the information out of her even if she doesn’t really want to tell me.
“Yeah, pretty much,” she admits.
“You circle the bar… in your underwear?”
Table of Contents
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- Page 2
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- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14 (Reading here)
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- Page 19
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