Charlie's

10

Sarah had a new dress when I met her in the lobby, perhaps something from one of the bags she'd had in the store: a long red number with belt, slit sides in the skirt and black high-heeled boots. She'd been a long time coming down, even after the long shower she'd taken at the station.

"Well, the water doesn't really get cold in the station. I know it's fake water in here, but at least it feels good. I just wanted to cool off."

She was much more receptive to Manhattan this time around. Maybe the desert really did suck something out of her, and she was eager to replenish it. She wanted to go out, go around, go everywhere, see everything. We started walking, grabbed a cab later, even wound up on a tour bus for a while. I'd been coming in for three years and I hadn't seen all the places we saw together.

We stopped in Times Square, and she turned round and round looking at all the displays. We had dinner in Carlyle's, then I found a movie theatre actually showing Marx Brothers films and we saw Duck Soup together. Yes, she could have seen it in her station room, but she seemed to enjoy trying to laugh through a mouth full of popcorn.

I cheated at the nightclub. I knew a feature of the sim, that if I didn't know a dance step I could be directed through it as if I knew it subliminally. There was easily ten years between us, but I could keep up with Sarah, if only because I didn't have to feel tired if I didn't want to.

She was actually in a good mood when we wandered into Charlie's, laughing at something I was saying that wasn't at all about rocks. People turned to see, regulars recognizing me but not the girl on my arm. Tom gave me a noncommittal nod and started drawing a beer. Tony was at the end of the bar; he sized Sarah up and gave me a wink. We settled at the bar, next to Eddie, who was nursing a bourbon.

"Hey Joe. Who's yer friend?"

"This is Sarah. Sarah, this is my best buddy in town, Eddie."

"Hi."

"Pleasure."

"Tom, the lady would like to try a beer. I keep telling her it don't get better than here, so don't make me look bad."

"Sure, Joe."

"So, yeah, Sarah's in town for a bit. I've been showing her around."

"That's great. So what'cha think o' the City that Never Sleeps?"

Sarah grinned. "It's better than being awake, that's for sure."

Eddie didn't seem to know what to do with that. Tom set a mug in front of Sarah; she took a long sip and closed her eyes. "Oh, that is good! And cold! Cold is real good!"

Eddie glanced at me. I shrugged. "Took her to see my rocks today. It gets hot out there."

"Wow, Joe, you sure know how to treat a girl."

Sarah giggled into her mug.

"Yeah, well, I keep thinking I can't be the only one who appreciates it, you know? I mean, the..."

"You start talkin' strata, I'm gonna get Tom to kick you outa here."

Tom eyed me with a small smile as he polished glasses. Sarah leaned over and said to Eddie, "No wonder you're his best friend. He needs someone like you."

"Someone's gotta make him not look at rocks once in a while. Reminds me, Joe, you seen the new shop down the street?"

"Uh...no? What new shop?"

"This ya gotta see. Mind if I borrow him, Sarah?"

She raised her mug to us. Eddie clapped me on the shoulder and led me to the door. I glanced back before stepping out and saw Tony watching me go, his eyes then sliding to Sarah.