I was strolling down the Galveston seawall when I saw Carmen from work and another woman walking side-by-side. We stopped and exchanged pleasantries. Carmen introduced me to her friend Dawn.
The name Dawn fit her well, like the sun just peeping up from the horizon crowned with pink and purple cirrus clouds underlined by yellow with a lavender breeze blowing ashore over white-capped waves. Wavy auburn tresses cascaded over her shoulders. Her pink t-shirt (“Limited Time Offer”) and torn blue-jean shorts scarcely concealed a curvaceous body that just would not quit except at all the exact right places. Incredibly natural long eyelashes framed her light jade green eyes above her sensuous smile.
“Hi, Johnny! That’s so cute!”
“um…well…like…you know…that is…Hi Dawn!”
She giggled. I blushed.
“Well, I gotta get back to work,” Carmen groaned. She waitressed at the Shark Shack Bar and Grill across the street. “It’s a beautiful day, why don’t you two just soak up the sunshine! Bye!”
Was this a setup? Could I be so lucky? I turned to Dawn, shuffled and blushed again.
“Well…so…”
“Well, so, let’s keep walking!”
Thankfully, Dawn had the gift of gab, so I listened for a few minutes which is what the ladies say a guy is supposed to do. Soon enough, I relaxed and to my surprise, the conversation flowed like wine. We found we had the same interests in music – Aretha, Amy Winehouse; movies – Sin City; authors – Stephen King; streaming shows – Better Call Saul; just about everything.
After about 20 minutes, she stopped and said, “Oh Johnny, I’m sorry, I really have to go study.” It turned out she was a student at the UT Medical Branch in Galveston.
“Oh,” I said, crestfallen. “I suppose you don’t have much free time, then.”
“Oh, silly, it’s spring break. Why don’t we meet tomorrow at The Strand and take another walk?”
“Really! Hell yeah! I mean, yes, I’d like that.” Dawn giggled and I blushed.
We parted and I walked away on clouds.
The next day, we met on the lower part of The Strand and walked all the way up to the railroad museum. Up until the 1920s when the Houston ship channel became fully operational, The Strand in Galveston was the preserve of cotton traders, bankers, insurance men, and various businesses associated with the shipping and trading industries in grand Victorian buildings at the busiest port in Texas.
We walked past the grand buildings now housing mainly souvenir shops and burger joints. We laughed at the tacky, overpriced tourist merchandise.
We passed a public open square that had an oversized chess set on it. We played a game, walking the large pieces from square to square until her queen captured my king, something I took as a good omen.
At the back of the open square with the chess set was an attraction called “Pirates! Legends of the Caribbean!” Once we entered, we quickly saw it was a pretty cheesy operation but bought tickets anyway. We went upstairs to “board” a mock ship where a grizzled old character who looked like he assembled his pirate costume from a grab-bag of Goodwill rejects greeted us.
“Hallo!” he growled in his manufactured gravelly voice. “I’m Blackjack Clack, the world’s oldest pirate! I’m 400 years old!” On the tour, he sang “Me bonnie lies o’er the ocean!” It was awful and we loved it.
Back outside, Dawn turned to me and said, “I had so much fun, Johnny!”
“Me too! I was wondering if … if … well … I could, you know, ask you out to dinner on Saturday at Gaido’s, you know? Maybe?”
“I’d be delighted!” she squealed. “Meet me at 8 and don’t be late!” She reached up and gave me a little kiss. “Bye!”
Oh, baby, that’s-a what I like.
~~~
Gaido’s is a Galveston seafood restaurant, a veritable institution among the fast-food joints and other restaurants that came and went along the seawall. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooked the bay. Waiters and waitresses served well-seasoned fish dishes at white-cloth tables.
I had looked online at chiseled models wearing Ralph Lauren clothes, picked one out and bought clothes at Goodwill that more or less approximated it – blue jeans, white open-collared shirt, checkered gray sports jacket, black porkpie hat, and my only dress shoes polished up. I arrived at 10 to 8:00 and waited outside.
Exactly at 8:00, I looked up and saw her approaching as if on a cloud – a billowing pink off-the-shoulder blouse, torn jeans, blue suede oxfords, immaculate makeup, scarlet lipstick. O be still, my beating heart.
We ordered dinner at a table by the windows. We laughed and laughed and laughed. After finishing, we stood outside, a little awkward. “Dawn…” I began.
“Would you like to see my apartment? I live nearby at Midnight at the Oasis.’ Oh boy, would I ever.
~~~
Her one-bedroom apartment was already dimly lit when we entered. Nice.
“Would you like something to drink? A nice chilled Australian Chardonnay, perhaps?”
“Uh, no thanks. I’ll just have some ice water.” No dulled senses for me tonight, no sir!
Dawn came back with her glass of wine and ice water for me and set them on the coffee table in front of the couch. “You don’t mind if I put on some music, do you?”
“By all means, please, do.”
The deep masculine voice of Leonard Cohen began singing
“Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic ‘till I’m safely gathered in
Lift me like an olive branch and be my homeward dove
Dance me to the end of love.”
She came back and sat right next to me on the couch. My love muscle started its ascent.
“This has been a perfect evening,” I said. “You look so, so beautiful.”
“Mmmmm,” she purred and laid her head on my shoulder. Slippery kisses and tangled tongues ensued.
This is it, I thought – the stage is set. I slowly edged my hand from her soft side, coming tantalizingly close to unveiling the mystery of her breasts, reaching the underlining of her bra.
Dawn immediately stood up and stomped her foot, furious. “What kind of girl do you think I am, you filthy disgusting beast!” she yelled.
“But…but…but…”
“But…but…bet you would have grabbed my butt, too. And me going to Morning Mass tomorrow! Get out!”
“But…but…but…”
“NOW!”
I straggled out the door, shocked, speechless. I couldn’t believe it! How could I have misread her so badly? It was almost in the palm of my hand, so to speak – almost!
I went back to the bar at Gaido’s, determined to spend what was left of my bank account on whiskey. “On the rocks, and quick.”
I thought it must have been a bad dream. It could not have possibly ended like that, could it? I ordered another drink.
Oh god, my heart and my hands ached so badly. Was it my fault? Too hasty? Yes, that must be it. I felt so guilty. I ordered another drink.
I resolved to get back in her good graces and her good embraces. I decided I would call her tomorrow and beg forgiveness. I would swear to slow down and let her lead me. and be sure to ask for permission when the time is right. I ordered another drink.
I suddenly got angry, very angry. She led me on, the dimly lit apartment, the offer of wine, the deliriously romantic music, the snuggling up to me, the purring, the mind-bending kisses. I smoldered. I ordered another drink.
I got deeply, deeply depressed. I ordered another drink.
I looked across the bar and saw three women laughing. One stole a glance at me. Did she just wink at me? Probably just a blink. No, a wink – definitely a wink, it had to be. She was gorgeous. She looked like a smoldering Lana Del Ray. I ordered another drink.
I thought of Lana’s smoking lyrics
“Touch me anywhere ‘cause I’m your baby
Grab my waist, don’t waste any part
I believe that you see me for what I am
So spill my clothes on the floor of your new car.”
Yes, yes, she had definitely winked at me.
Finally! Acceptance. Time to move on.
I ordered another drink, I ordered her a drink, and slowly stumbled toward her. I wished I had a car.
Copyright © Johnny Clack 2022
Short Shorts 