Peace&Love is slowly stirring her drink (a big wide tall foamy pink drink with an umbrella) while she watches Lola walking toward the corner table. Turning her attention back to the jazz music on stage, PaL nudges Diane.
"Who is that guy that Lola's talking to?"
"Hummm, it's too dark. I can't really see him."
"Where's Lola's bucket of quarters? Mine's right here, but I don't see Lola's? I'm going to count my quarters."
PaL is making little piles with four quarters in each pile.
A young cocktail waiter, who looks like he's been working a long shift and would love to sit down, raises his eyebrows as he walks by the table. PaL supposes that this is the way that the waiter asks if anyone needs another drink. However, muses PaL, perhaps the waiter is asking if the quarters on the table are for him. PaL raises her eyebrows in response. The waiter stops, holding his tray from underneath with one hand, his eyebrows still raised.
PaL, briefly wonders what it would be like to live and work in Las Vegas. Had she asked, the waiter would have been reluctant to talk about his life, fearing that he would sound like a real loser. He had convinced himself that if he got this job, he would put on the act of being self sufficient and confident, as if the tips he received were quaint little tidbits of pocket change. In fact, he was desperate for each tip. He was sending money home to his parents, who had just gone through a kidney transplant operation. His father's kidneys had been bad for years, and, miraculously, his mother's kidneys were a perfect match. The young waiter was in awe of his mother, who was overjoyed when she learned that she could give a kidney to her husband. The young waiter didn't like hospitals and was ashamed to admit that he had not attempted to go in for the tests to learn if his kidneys would be acceptable for a transplant to his father. He was ashamed of his relief when he learned that his mother would do what he probably should have done, especially considering that he was younger and heathier than his mother. He was ashamed of his fear of hospitals. He wished that he could go back in time and be brave enough to have the tests performed. He was ashamed that he was working in a bar in Las Vegas, and could understand why his parents would be thoroughly disappointed in him. However, way deep down in the depths of his heart, he knew the truth, that his parents had always been proud of their only child, and simply wished for him to be happy, wherever he lived. But, he hid from the depths of his heart by thinking about his fears and how ashamed he was of himself. In some strange way, sending money to his parents helped to relieve some of that shame. He didn't know why.
The young waiter is waiting for a response from PaL. Finally, he lowers his eyebrows, cocks his head to one side, flashes a sexy smile, and says, "How's your drink? Ready for another?"
PaL smiles sweetly, and replies, "Oh, no thanks. I'm fine. But, here's a tip for your tip jar."
c.i.
