The clock creeps past midnight and on toward morning. A country song about lost love plays on the jukebox. The only two souls in the bar are the bartender, who is doing busy work, and a thirty-something woman staring at an empty glass.
In walked a man in his forties, wearing a denim shirt and jeans. He sits two stools away from the woman. He motions to the bartender, “I’ll have a neat Jack and whatever she wants.”
“Bloody Mary.” The woman says.
“How’s the evening going?” The man asks.
“Is that the best pickup line you have?” she asked with a bit of contempt in her voice.
“What makes you think I want to pick you up?”
She looked to her right, and then to her left, past the stranger. “We are the only two in this bar, and you chose to sit next to me.”
“We are not the only two in this bar.” Then tips his head toward the bartender.
“Well, tell me, why did you choose to sit next to me?”
“I chose to sit next to you because you look like you could use some company.”
The bartender placed the glass of Jack in front of the stranger and a Bloody Mary in front of the woman.
She takes a sip from her drink. “I have all the company I need.”
He placed both hands around his drink. Then he gives her a side glance, taking note of her short black dress and her empty shoes sitting on the floor. “You look like someone stood you up tonight.”
“That’s none of your business.” She gave him a long look from his head to his hiking boots and back up again. “You sure don’t look like you are out to pick up a lay for the night.”
“What’s wrong with the way I dress? My clothes are clean, and I did take a shower before I left my place.”
“Are you trying to say, since no one else will take me home, you are available?”
“Did you hear me say those words?”
“No, but you chose to sit next to me and talk with me.”
“I could be curious as to why you are sitting there.”
“Have you considered that I could be here waiting for the bartender to get off and take me home?”
“I doubt that. He looks gay.” The bartender shot them a grin.
“Are you gay?”
“Would I be talking to you if I were gay?”
“I know you are not going to take me home.”
“Why is that?”
“I’m on my period.”
“Is that so?” The man looked at the woman’s drink.
“What does my drink tell you?” She asked.
“Well, you are drinking a Bloody Mary. Possibly your name is Mary, and you are either on your period or a serial killer.”
“Close.” She said with a slight nod.
“Okay, what does my drink tell you about me?”
“You ordered a Jack neat. I’m going with your name being Jack, and you think you are a really neat guy.”
“You’re right about my name, and I do think I am a neat guy.”
The bartender approached the two and said, “It’s one in the morning. I would like to get out of here by two o’clock. Do either one of you want another?”
“I’m good. Give the lady another round.” Mary slid her empty glass toward the bartender.
“Tell me what brings you out this late, neat Jack.”
“Only if you tell me your story first, Bloody Mary.”
“What makes you think I have a story?”
“You are all dressed up as if you were set to go out to dinner and dancing, but you are sitting here in an empty bar.”
Mary downs her second Bloody Mary in one long drink. “I had a boyfriend. We were to go out for our second anniversary when he hit me.”
“Was that the first time he hit you?”
“No, I’ve put up with it the whole time we were together. Tonight, he hit me and insisted I put on a different dress. I lost it. I grabbed his baseball bat and beat him to a bloody pulp. Then I cleaned up and came down here to celebrate my independence.” Mary took a deep breath. “Your turn. Tell me why you are here?”
“I was getting ready to take my family on a camping trip for the weekend when I got a call. You see, I’m a homicide detective. I was called to your apartment a few blocks from here. I saw what you did. Because of you, I won’t be able to take my family for the weekend camping.”
“How did you find me?”
“A neighbor saw you leave your apartment and come down here. I wanted to hear your story before arresting you.”
“So, you are here to pick me up, after all?” “No, I am not here to pick you up. I am here to arrest you, Bloody Mary. Stand up.”
