Greenwich Drive
The Black-Tie Event
Behind the bar, a Hispanic gentleman with a ponytail dressed in tight fitting all black bartending uniform performs mixology tricks for some of the amateur drinkers. Studying the motions of the shaker flying around his head, before pouring the fruity drink into the glass.
Finishing the whiskey and handing my glass off to a random member of the waitstaff without catching a glimpse of them. I make my way over to the bar taking a seat on the bar stool between the two empty seats. He turns to me. Shouting over the music, “What can I get you, boss?”
“JOHNNY.”
“Got it, coming up.”
“ON THE ROCKS.”
Turning my seat around to the dancefloor, staring at Amelia and her family on the dance floor; laughing, hugging, and smiling. Her father, a tall strapped Russian man in a black pinstripe suit, her mother a German woman in a white strapless evening dress, and her. Amelia, in the little black cocktail dress too informal for the event. Then again, with legs like those…sorry gotta keep this PG; she looks as good as ever.
the bartender is tapping my shoulder, “Johnny neat.”
“Thanks.” putting a hundred on the bar, “keep it.”
“sure thing.”
Eyes still glued on Amelia I take a drink, it’s smooth against my tongue no burn till the end. Fingertips holding the glass brim on the bar.
A push from the side, claims my attention. “Bro.” It’s Adam, my sort of cousin, leaning over the bar counter. “Bro, this party is insane. I just met some guy with that new Lambo.. what’s it called again?”
My attention still on Amelia “I have no idea.”
“Fair enough.” ordering his own drink he turns around back to the counter, “ Check out Amelia, man. She looks good doesn’t she.” my eyes still locked on her dancing with a little brunette boy.
“She’s alright.”
“What?”Hitting my shoulder, “come on man, she looks great..”
She looks over at the bar, smiling at me. Returning a wink, she bends over whispering to the little brunette boy she’s dancing with. He dances over to her sister, and Amelia makes her way over to us. Approaching us she steps up to Adam, measuring him with those crystal blue eyes. The look in her eyes, goddam it, she looks fine smirking in his face, “Hello Adam.”
He, flustered. “Hello.”
Having a drink of Johnny while observing the exchange between a small man and a bold woman.
“would you excuse me? I’d like to get a drink.”
“I could order it for you.”
Waving her index, “No no, I think I’ll manage.” Smiling at my whiskey, trying not to laugh.
She leans over the bar waving that finger at the bartender, and he travels down the bar toward her. “Can I have an old fashion?”
Keeping my head down so as to nearly hide. she slides herself over beside me. Her facing the bar back and me facing the dance floor. “Theo.” the ring in voice
my attempt to mimic her “Amelia.”
“You know you can come to join us. instead of sitting here at the bar alone, staring.”
“I know, I just…” eyeing the drink, “you know what. Why not, let's go.” Getting up from the bar, the bartender hands her old fashion and she leads me to the floor. “Dad, Dad, Daddy.”
The silvery voice “Yes, honey.”
“you remember, Theo,”
Wrinkled forehead, Mr. Hull seems more interested in my leather jacket than the introduction “Theo, my boyfriend.”
“Oh, Theo, Hi. Mr. Hull.”
“Mr. Hull. Please, don’t hesitate to call me, Mr. Letren.” Shaking my hand, his eye immediately wander from me to Amelia. The crunch of her eyebrow, “Theodore…” shaking my hand, looking down at me from his towering stature his eyes disapprove, but her bright smile seems content causing him a contrast of emotion.
Mrs. Hull, in that white evening dress, comes rushing over. “Honey, Mr. Br..”
“Mommy this is Theo.” Mrs. Hulls looks at me, she is too confused but makes my introduction.
:” Hello, nice to meet you, but please excuse me I need my husband for a second.” shaking my hand she turns to her daughter, “Amelia.”
standing there shoulder to should watching them step away, the DJ changes the song. A wait staff member walks by, "hey buddy,” handing him my glass and we dance “get rid of this for me.”
Dancing with Amelia… till that song comes on. The first song she and I danced to. Suddenly the entire area is a blur. Looking around the room, it seems Adam’s stepped away leaving me to handle my own.
Hilary, and Megan, join us… Amelia was excited to see her friends, “Megan, Hilary.” She hugs them, and I excuse myself from the floor. Making my way back to the bar, resting the glass on the counter. Looking over my shoulder at the party. The bartender approaches me, “another?”
“No, no thank you.”