Looking around the room one last time, I was satisfied that everything was in place for my return. Tonight was just as I had planned it to be and I went out the door confident and ready for what came next.
The piercing wind was gusting hard as I walked up the road. My hands clenched themselves tightly as if trying to pull the warmth from each other. I had left in such a hurry that I forgotten it was nearly 15 degrees below zero outside. Minnesota winters can be bone chilling when not properly dressed although tonight I didn't care.
The three block walk was short but my body didn't agree. I walked in the door and the heated air slammed into my skin instantly soothing it with it's warmth . I shivered as I brushed off the snow from my shoes as I paused at the bar to order a beer. Two for one 'happy hour' had already started without me but I figured I'd make up for the lost time. I grabbed the beer and felt the stinging pain from the cold cans and headed into the back to grab a table.
My choices were limited to the open table in the front back corner. Being out of the way seemed appropriate for the occasion I thought to myself and settled in. Finding a pool stick in a dive bar is always difficult but I managed to find myself something to work with. I would have played with anything.
The bar was dark, small and dirty. The walls were worn with deep colored carpet and old wood paneling. The kind they used back in the early 70's. You could tell that the place had seen better days as wells as the people it enclosed inside of it. Had it been any other night, I wouldn't have wanted to touch anything but I saw no reason to fret about it now.
I broke my first rack and proceeded to hit at any ball with the rage and fury I held inside. One by one they sunk into their pockets as I downed the last of my two beers. I stopped the waitress and told her to keep them coming all night. A nod and smile, the beer never stopped.
Game after game I played going over hundreds of things in my head only to be, what I thought at the time, rudely interrupted by a man holding a small case and asking for a game. Little did I know, that my life was about to change forever.....
This is what I hope to be the opening page to my book that I'm going to write. It needs work but having only started it an hour ago, I think it's ok for now. I'd love to share more but this will be all you get until it's finished.
4 comments:
Well its about goddamned time! I was HOPING you would get to the gettin!
I think you should start with..."It was a dark and stormy night..." I think it's both catchy and original.
Yea and originality is where it's at. I mean, I would hate to copy another person's idea....
he he he he
Yes, it is about time....
I must have missed this blog...my goodness, I read all of the ones around this. How could I miss it?? I am excited.
I sure do hope you are still working on this.
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