If I Ever Get Out Of Here

Jesus, that was beautiful. The way you moved across the floor there and just kinda swung around the corner of that table. Fabulous, woman. Carrying that tray with 10 sleeves of beer- now bring some of that my way, would ya? Ya, that's right, I'll have another. Or four! Dwayne's cackle quickly gave way to a lung shattering cough, with a low rattle to rival his Fat Boy permanently parked in the front stall. Cherry is now leaning against the bar rail, rolling her eyes, snapping her nicotine gum, sighing heavily. Every night it's the same thing: Dwayne and his mouth. Running like a leaky tap, one tired, creaky pick up line after another. If she wasn't so desperate for cash, Cherry'd be long gone. Back on the road, heading south, all the way down to New Orleans. It's been too long; she wasn't getting any younger. Hard to make ends meet in a two bit tavern with desperate regulars that feel entitled to slap and tickle without the accompanying tip. Cherry can handle the come-ons and subtle rub-ups, even the malicious heckling of drunken depressives; she gets it. Par for the course, written in invisible ink on the contract, yeah, yeah, she knows what to expect. Lately though the money's dried up. The town is fading fast, all the work is north west on the line, working the sands. When the guys come home flush and feisty for some recharging and recreation, The Big Stick no longer makes the cut. The high end Gentlemen's Club and even the golf course bar are where the money is nowadays. Twenty pounds and ten years ago Cherry would have been working those floors. Now her best bet is to stick with what she knows and search for her silver lining, maybe hit the lottery on some out of towner who wanders in looking for cheap draft and good tables. Dwayne starts wheezing up a lung again, then knocks back a glass in one swallow. Hey, hey, hey Cherry doll, Cherry Cola, cherry oh cherry oh baby, can't you see I'm in love with you? Now why don't you swing that sassy self on over to my stool and help me waste the night away, hmm doll? Cherry turns her back to the bar, stretches her neck from side to side and spits her gum in the garbage, unwraps a fresh stick, pops it into her mouth and chews furiously. She pastes on a smile, sashays back around and winks in Dwayne's direction. Two more, hun? You got it. Comin' right up.

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