No Job, No Car, No Problem!

It's Just Dinner

I arrived in Aruba two days ago on a business trip.  I’ve never been to this island before but find it both friendly and beautiful.  “Want to go out tonight?” I ask my co-worker.

“Heck ya!  Let’s go dancing,” he replies.  I never exactly thought of Jose as the dancing type.  To me he’s married and a brand new father but if he wants to go dancing, who am I to stop him?  “I’ll can drive here since I know the country, then you can drink the way you youngsters do,” he says.  Sounds like a fabulous plan to me!

Once we are in downtown Aruba I am very grateful to have Jose’s company.  The street is lined with scary looking men that are eyeing and then picking up the young American girls that pass by.   I really need to be careful if I decide to stay here by myself a few days.

Jose and I walk into an empty bar that is playing some of the best music I have ever heard in a dance club.  How can this place be empty?  The music, the lighting, everything about this place makes you want to party.  “Doesn’t start up until at least 11:00,” says the bartender.  Darn.  We can’t possibly stay out that late being it’s a weeknight.  “But go next door, that’s the place to start.  It will be crowded over there.”  Jose and I take his recommendation and make our way next door to Carlos n’ Charlie’s.  The only way to describe this bar is out of control.  There are drunk, young women dancing terribly provocatively on stage.  Some are undressing themselves.  Others are barely able to stand to do so.  One appears to literally have her dress stuck around her neck, her head wrapped inside and her skinny little body begging for help.  “Oh my!” I say to Jose who stands next to me wide eyed and mouth dropped open.  “It’s no wonder girls go disappearing on these islands.  Those girls are out of control.”

“You better not go doing anything like that just because you will be here by yourself!”  Jose looks at me nervously, appearing very serious about his warnings. 

“Come on Jose.  I promise I won’t.  Can you imagine?  These big old hips aren’t climbing up on any stage!”

He laughs at my typical bluntness.  “Hey that guy over there is checking you out.”

“What?” I ask scanning the crowded bar.  He’s right, directly to my right is a very short, very dark man.  He can’t stand higher than 4’ 8”.  I should know having a lot of very short dates these days.  He’s wearing an oversized Tupac shirt and a black hat turned sideways.  Complimenting his outfit are large gold chains with huge medallions at the ends.  The man stares, working to seduce me with his eyes.   “Oh my goodness,” I say laughing, trying to hide my face. 

“Oh Jenny, look.  I think he’s showing off!”  The man starts dancing closer toward me.  He pelvic thrusts forward and his four foot tall body follows.  He faces me, slight bend in his knees, bumping up and down, moving step by step.

“Let’s get out of here,” I nearly scream to Jose.

“Ha!  That was enough of a show for me!”  Looking at each other laughing, we both turn to run out of the bar. 

“Listen, I know you are going to be here alone, but please Jenny be careful here.  It makes me really nervous to leave you here on your own.  Especially knowing how you can get.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I saw you eyeing that short dancer.  Don’t deny it.”  I nearly choke as we laugh all the way back to the hotel.

“See you when I get back to work.”  I tell Jose. 

“Don’t go doing anything stupid and getting your self kidnapped, okay?”

“Promise,” I tell him thinking I really need to drink carefully over the next few days.

It’s my first day of my unplanned vacation in Aruba.  No work, only the beach and punch to enjoy for the next couple days.  I throw open the hotel curtains, letting the sunshine and sound of ocean waves in.  Mmm, the only thing that could make this trip better would be having a date to spend it with.  What am I going to do today?  First thing I’m going to do is race downstairs to the gift shop.  I didn’t anticipate staying here and need to find myself a skirt and tank top.  Thankfully I randomly brought my bathing suit.  And what a score!  I’ve been here ten minutes and freakishly found an adorable white mini skirt with ARUBA printed in pink across the back.  It will perfectly complement my oversized ass.  What do I care?  I’m walking to the beach.