The Maine Events, Rodney Riesel [best books to read in your 20s TXT] 📗

the toes and thiscould have been avoided.”

“You're very funny, Allen,” Donnie shot back. “Maybe youshould have been a comedian instead of a writer.”

“Probably. We're almost there. A few more steps.”

Donnie threw back his head. “Praise the Lord!” he shoutedlike a tent revival preacher.

Everyone dining on the front deck looked over at the twomen.

“Is there something we can do for you?” Donnie askedsnidely.

Most of the people looked away.

“I didn't think so.”

“Don't start any fights tonight,” Allen warned. “I don'tfeel like getting my ass kicked.”

“Don't worry, Allen, I'd protect you.”

“Wonderful.”

The hostess stand was unmanned. Allen searched the area forMya. He looked to his left, in the direction of the deck across the alley. Shewas nowhere in sight.

“Looking for your lady friend?” Donnie asked.

“Yes.”

“She's working tonight?”

“She's supposed to be, but I don't see her.”

Just then, a tall, slender Black girl walked up to thepodium. She had very short hair, parted on the left side. She was dressed intan slacks and a matching short-sleeve top. She had a perfect smile.

“Just the two of you this evening?” asked the young woman.

“Yes,” Donnie answered. “Just two dashing men out on thetown. Lock up your husbands and sons.”

Allen felt his face redden. “And daught—uh, I mean … I'mnot. What I'm saying is—”

“Relax, Allen,” said Donnie. “This lovely young lady tookone look at you, and knew you were not a gay man.” He returned his attention tothe hostess. “I think he was afraid you thought he was gay.”

“No I wasn't,” Allen said, trying to hide his slightfeelings of homophobia.

Donnie rolled his eyes. “It's fine,” he told Allen. “Iwouldn't want anyone mistaking me for straight.”

The hostess chuckled.

“Wow,” Allen said. “I never realized how straightaphobic youwere.”

“That's not a thing.”

Did you want to sit inside, or out?” she asked.

“Outside,” said Donnie.

“Is Mya here this evening?” Allen asked.

“You're a friend of Mya's—wait, are you Allen?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Oh, it's nice to meet you, Allen. I'm Wendy.”

“Nice to meet you.” Allen pointed across the alley. “Can wesit over there?”

“You sure can.” Wendy picked up her dry-erase marker andcrossed out one of the four-tops on her chart. She picked up two menus. “Rightthis way.”

“My name is Donnie, by the way.”

“Nice to meet you as well, Donnie,” said Wendy.

Wendy led them across the alley and up the steps to thedeck. She pointed at the same table where Allen had sat the day he arrived. “Isthis okay?”

“Yes. Marvelous,” said Donnie.

Wendy put the menus on the table. “Oh, and you asked aboutMya. Sorry about that. She called in tonight. Said she had something to takecare of, and that she would try to make it in by eight.”

“She say what she had to take care of?” Allen asked.

“Nope.” Wendy stepped back from the table. “Enjoy yourdinner. Cal will be your waiter this evening, and if Mya shows up, I'll tellher you're over here.”

“Thanks,” said Allen.

“Thank you,” Donnie said. He watched Wendy as she crossedthe deck and went back down the stairs.

Allen was watching Donnie watch Wendy. “What are you lookingat?” he asked.

“I love her shoes,” Donnie replied.

“And folks wonder where stereotypes come from.”

Donnie chuckled. “What are you ordering to drink?”

“The Painkiller is really good here.”

“Oh, that sounds good. Rum, right?”

“Yes.”

“I think I'll order one as well.”

A few seconds later, Cal arrived at the table. “How are yougentlemen this evening?” he asked.

“Fabulous,” said Donnie.

“And I'm not quite as fabulous,” Allen said.

“Maybe some of his fabulous will rub off on you,” said Cal.

“He better not rub anything off on me,” Allen said, doinghis best Groucho Marx impersonation, down to waggling an imaginary cigar.

“You are horrible,” Donnie said.

“I have no self-control.”

“What can I get you gentlemen to—hey, you're the guy who gotinto the fight here the other day.”

“Guilty,” said Allen.

“Fight?” Donnie asked.

“It's a long story,” said Allen.

“Dude, when that guy hit the deck, the whole buildingshook,” Cal recalled with a grin.

“You knocked him out?” Donnie asked.

“Not actually.”

“Guy had a heart attack or something,” Cal said.

 “You gave the man a heart attack?” Donnie gasped.

“He gave himself a heart attack,” Allen said. “And by theway, Cal, thanks for telling the cops I was just defending myself.”

“Well, that's what everyone else said, so I just went alongwith it.”

“Thanks. I'll have a Painkiller.”

“I'll also have a Painkiller, said Donnie.

“I'll go make those while you're looking over the menu.”

Cal turned and walked through the French doors at the end ofthe deck.

When Cal was completely out of earshot, Donnie said, “I needto hear the whole story.”

“Not much of a story. I was sitting here. I put in my drinkorder. Then I got up to use the restroom. When I opened the door, two guys werealready in there.”

“Why does that not ever happen to me?”

“Sorry to ruin it for you, but they were only arguing.”

“Were they pulling each other's hair?”

“Can I finish my story?”

“Carry on.”

“The bigger of the two guys hollered at me for opening thedoor. I came back with a few wise remarks. He tried to grab me, so I shut hisarm in the door. I told him to calm down, and I would let him out of thebathroom. He said he was calm. I opened the door. He walked out, clutched hischest, and hit the deck. And Cal was right, the whole place shook.”

“What did the other guy do?”

“Not much. He got down on his knees—”

Donnie opened his mouth and started to say something.

“Don't say it,” Allen warned.

“I can't help it.”

“The smaller guy got down on his knees and tried to reviveBobby.”

“Wait a minute. You know the guy?”

“I do now.”

“He didn't die?”

“God, no. The ambulance came and took him to the hospital.Checked himself out of the hospital the next day. Then he came to my hotel roomto tell me there were no hard feelings.”

“That was nice of him.”

“Yeah, he's a wonderful person,” Allen said with a littlesarcasm, but not enough for Donnie to catch it.

“Here you go, gentlemen,” Cal said, putting their drinks onthe table in front of them. “Have you decided what you'd like to eat?”

Allen ordered chicken wings and a lobster roll. Donnie wentwith the fish sandwich and a side salad. They were halfway through