Another friday night

"It always rains on a Friday night......"
Colin, who had a talent for stating the obvious, stated as he looked
out of the chip shop window. The pub over the road was chucking out and
people were spilling out on to the pavements in droves. Ian leant up
off the counter and joined his friend surveying the late night scene.
Yes it would be raining when it was his turn to go for it.
"Better get a move on here otherwise we'll never get home" Gary, his
friend and work colleague stated from the front of the queue.
"Do you want chilli on these or what?"
Ian and Colin nodded their agreement and returned to the scene
outside.
"Erg!! See him!" Colin pointed across the road to an litter-bin at the
side of the pub that was both holding up a youth and providing a
receptacle for his vomit at the same time. The two girls who where also
waiting for their order looked across and starting giggling to each
other. Ian smiled at them. He had noticed the dark haired one in the
pub over the road and had thought she was a looker..with her tight
short skirt and tiny top-
"Ere you go then get these down you" and "lets stand in the usual and
suss out you know what" Gary thrust two greasy parcels into his friends
hands
Ian had somewhat gone off the idea of eating now and it was nothing to
do with the scene over the road. No his stomach felt tight for a
different reason.
The rain began to come down heavier as they sprinted across the road
to a Shoe shop doorway where they normally stood to eat there takeaways
on a Friday. As they began to undo their wrappers Gary said
"Well...any sign then?"
And Ian felt his stomach go tighter. He looked through the rain and
considered..
All in all a good night really. He had won on the snooker and the
darts and the proceeds of those wins had more than paid for his supper.
There had been plenty of scantilly clad ladies to ogle in the various
pubs and they'd had a laugh alright..but now..
"Listen it looks like it going off a bit should we just walk
and"
The sound of his two friends bursting out laughing cut him off.
"Oh no you don't Ian my boy" said Colin "you don't get out of it that
easily..."
"What do you mean? I only-"
"Yea we know what you mean alright"
"But -"
"But nothing" Gary cut him off. "Its your turn and you know it!"
Ian knew it would come to this , he'd known all night. With a loud
sign he said
"Fair enough then...lets get it over with then.."
All eyes returned to the opposite side of the street. Any minute
now....
"Here she is right on time" and there she was strolling past the pub
heading for the building next door. Ians stomach tightened another
notch. He knew he was being stupid but witnessing his friends
unsuccessful attempts on consecutive weekends, however amusing at the
time, only served to compound any embaressment he may experience
tonight. He noticed that, as was her habit, she had stopped in the shop
doorway to smoke a cigarette before her 'night-shift' commenced . Ian
could barely see her through the darkened street and the rain but he
could picture her clear enough.
It was her hair that he'd first noticed. Almost a carrot-red. Not the
type of thing he found attractive at all. Gary had said that on her it
looked good but Ian was undecided. True she had a fine figure and her
face was pretty in an almost stern way but Ian guessed that came with
the job. Having to deal with drunken slobbering men as a 'job'.. well
Ian did'nt want to think about that now. Having to do what she did
..well no wonder she had an attitude. It was not something he would
wish to do in a million years. He imagined what it must be like working
through the night. Still, when you are in a 'service' industry you keep
hours to suit everyone else. Surely she could'nt be as bad as she was
with Colin?
Colins first mistake had been to call her 'Love'. This was evident the
way her already serious looking face had stiffened when he said
it.
" I'm not yours or anyone elses love..o.k?"
This in itself was enough to deter most sane minded people but Colin
had pressed on
"Sorry darling did'nt know you were a dyke"
At which point any chance of him doing any kind of business had
vanished out the window. On the walk home that night both Ian and Gary
had begrudgingly admired Colins reply but its amusement value had
quickly worn off as the walk home got longer. Gary was indignant
though.
"Who does she think she is anyway. She can't knock us back like that.
Its her bleedin job to see to the likes of us..Wait till next week I'll
show her.."
However the following week Gary bravado, like the alcohol, had worn
off considerably.
"How about a club eh? Free admission at Scandals before eleven!"
Ian, and Colin especially, were having none of it.
"Oh yeah.." said Colin "thought you were going to show her this week.
Remember put her in her place?"
"Well I would if we were not going to a club-"
"WE ARE'NT!!" Colin and Ian shouted in unison then broke up
laughing.
"Well it was just an idea.." and Gary, resigned to his fate had
followed his two friend over the road.
As they entered the first thing that had struck them was she was
wearing a Beret. And a bright red one at that. Gary had spied an
opening.
"Good evening...terrible weather eh..bet your busy Friday night and
all..."
Her expression never changed. She had him in her steely stare and
there was no going back.
"What exactly is it I can do for you?"
After a promising start Gary started to flounder.
"Nice hat...it matches your hair!"
"You come in here to swap fashion tips or what?"
"Erm well no i......" Gary considered the futility of his
situation.God, was he a man or a mouse? Pussy or Lion? Gelding or
stallion? Hell this is her job for Gods sake- Go for it Man!- The worse
that could happen is she could say no but-her attitude-how she ever
makes a penny with that was beyond him-Without punters like him she'd
soon go 'bust' alright-
"I....."
By now the colour was rising in his cheeks and he felt like a schoolboy
trying to make small-talk with a teacher for whom he had his first
'crush'.
"Look spit it out fella i have'nt got all night and your two friends
holding the door open are letting all the heat out so.."
Behind him he could hear his friends giggling.Right.This time.Forget
the dancing about..straight to the point -yes or no-then one way or
another this 'ordeal' would be over.He met her steely gaze and held it
with his own.Taking a deep breath he could hear nothing but the
thudding of his own heart.He forced a smile.....
" I was just wondering......." Now, its now!
" Any chance of a Taxi?"

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