The Spider and The Fly.
Friday Night. Shootin Pool.
Wondering what I’ll do when I’m through tonight?
The door opened.
In she walked. Long blond hair. with curves in all the right places. wearing some kind of party dress that didn’t leave much to the imagination. a little overdressed for Mal D’s Billiards. Gals wore get ups like this to those fancy smancy clubs downtown. only thing the rabble in this place knew about clubs? were the ones the coppers put over the top of your noggin for cracking wise at em.
I was about to lose 50 bucks in a game of nine ball.
I put my money on the rail.
Mott’s handed me a drink. and said, Watch this, Jimmy is a ladykiller.
The Blonde was sitting at the bar talking to Mott’s friend Jimmy.
That ain’t no lady Mott’s.
I knew the type. Not exactly a Sunday school teacher.
Jimmy excused himself to make a phone call.
She crossed her legs. leaning back on the bar.
Caught me looking her way.
Giving me the up and down.
Man can stand only so much.
I swaggered over.
Then I said “hi,” like a spider to a fly.
Where’d Mr. Jimmy go?
Had to make a phone call.
You know Jimmy? She asked me.
I’m his parole officer.
You?
Oh? Oh My? we just met.
She was practically in his lap for crying out loud. just met?
Jimmy reappeared. Help you wit something?
Just keeping her company til you returned.
Fade….Will ya?
I tipped my hat to her. excusing myself. heading back to the tables.
Just my luck, lost my second game and another 50 bucks. I couldn’t focus.
I turned to see the blonde alone at the bar.
What happened to Jimmy? I asked Motts.
Dunno.
It was getting late. I walked over….
Where’s Mr. Terrific?
He had to leave. she said. Men.
Leaning on the bar. I told her. You got us all wrong. He ought to have his head examined, leaving a beautiful dish all alone in this place.
Flattery will get you nowhere. she blushed,
You remind me of the first woman who ever slapped my face.
We talked a while, had a couple more drinks, she lived along the lakefront. wealthy family. she was trouble, no doubt about it. one look at those legs and that get up she was in and I knew. Trouble. no one wears a dress like that to a pool hall.
So doll face what brings you in here tonight?
Suzie. she said.
Sorry?
Suzie, my names Suzie.
Gotta be someplace downtown with society fellas falling all over a dame like you?
Exactly why I’m in here tonight. she told me.
So you’re slumming it?
No, not at all. I just wanted to see how the other half lives.
And?
So far? mmmm.
Smiling like the devil would smile at you.
I would have run away. but I was on my own.
I tipped my mitt.
We finished our giggle juice. and left together. Heading back to my place. Stopping off to grab a bottle of champagne from Larry’s House of Booze.
Halfway through the bottle, she told me she wouldn’t sleep with me tonight. I just smiled.
All we were missing was candlelight, soft music and our clothes at the foot of the bed.
I lit a candle. dimmed the lights. tripped and fell into the wall head first.
Staggering to my couch. Suzie knelt beside me, concern on her face. trying not to laugh.
I put my arm around her waist, pulling her close.
Again, she told me she wouldn’t sleep with me tonight.
I just smiled. looked into her eyes and unbuttoned her dress.
Lying there afterward, she asked if she could sing me a song.
Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had a naked woman sing to me.
She got out of bed, turned to me, clasping her hands together and belted out Crazy for You, By Patsy Cline.
Why? She wasn’t the devil after all?
Just a lovely woman looking for some companionship.
Who am I to argue with a lady?
In the morning. I awoke to find her still lying next to me.
I thought I told you I wasn’t going to sleep with you?
You did? didn’t you? What happened?
Well? What’s a girl to do? she said as she stretched.
After coffee, we got dressed.
What are you doing later tonight?
I’m sure I can move my plans around if need be. I told her.
She took her pen out. handing me a note .
It read.
Suzie,
1150 north lake shore drive. # 1707.
Bring Champagne. 9pm.
The doorman of her building called to announce my arrival. directing me to the elevator.
17th floor.
I knocked on her door.
She opened it wearing a full length mink coat. holding a Polaroid camera.
I Handed her the Bottle of Champagne. I’m afraid I’m a little under dressed.
Opening her coat. What a coincidence? So am I.
Thunderstorms crossed the city.
This time she put on the music and I managed not to fall into the wall.
It’s almost like we were meant to be together?
We had dinner a week later when she told me, I wasn’t her type.
Apparently her type involved swine with money who could wine her and dine her. take her to society functions. I didn’t have those connections anymore, nor did I really ever want them to begin with. You ever talk to the upper crust? Snooty, real snooty. But the ladies do like to dance under the covers…No matter what they first tell you.
She was a society dame. I was just some mug she bumped into for a couple of days in the spring.
It was a clean sneak. nobody got hurt…I took the rumble. hitting on all eight.
On the square.
