Short Stories by Panic! At The Disco

The Ballad Of Mona Lisa

A/N
I just want to start off by telling you I'm sorry for the very, very late update. I've actually had it ready since the end of Easter but just haven't had a way to post it until now.

Mary was the sole employee at the only saloon in her one horse town. It's not that the owner was cheap but rather that Mary had offered to cover all the shifts if in return she was paid the extra money. The raven hair woman had always possessed a gift when it came to talking to people. She could sell you sand in the desert or ice in the arctic and leave you thinking you had scored a bargained. It was for that reason that many people had encouraged her to run for presidency rather than working as a bar lady all her life and that was what she intended on doing. The full hours at the saloon allowed her to use her gift to make people see her as a fitting candidate – regardless of the fact that she was a woman that lived in an era where men were superior.

Everyone in town knew her name, face and charming scent that smelled of lavender in a town that smelt like horse shit. She would use her influences as bar lady to give a man a free shot of gin here and there without her boss knowing and in return the men would tip her handsomely at the end of the night.

Every morning she put a smile of her face as she opened up the saloon and pretended to give a damn about the drunk and swaggering men who would enter and order their rounds. God how she hated her job but it paid the rent and put food on the table for and her younger sister.

"Morning Jim." She greeted sweetly as she walked into the saloon, ready to start the day's work. Her boss smiled and tipped his hat as he dug in his pocket for her weekly pay. "A young gentleman gave me this to add to your pay. I reckon he fancies you." She rolled her eyes before taking the money and stashing it in her bag behind the bar. "Tell me Mary, why is that you aren't wed? You've entered your twenties and haven't much longer to walk this Earth. Why not settle down and start a family?"

"I tell you every morning, Jim." She started, reaching for the whiskey to pour her boss his morning drink. "My life too busy right now to worry about finding a man. I have my sister to look after and the elections to worry about. If and when I become mayor, then I might consider looking for husband."

Her boss looked at her red faced from the burn he received yesterday, nodded in understanding before taking the glass with his pudgy hand and downing the drink. This was as far as their conversations would go. They would have the odd exchange of "how's your sister doing" or "I guarantee you'll succeed in the elections. Was never a person quite like you" but the minute a customer walked in he would greet them and stalk off to his office where he'd sort through the bills.

Her daily routine went on like this for quite some time before one day she entered the saloon to find it fuller than usual and buzzing with excitement and anticipation. "What's with all the commotion, Tom?" She asked one of her regulars as he staggered up to the bar.

"Haven't you heard?" He asked.

If I had heard I wouldn't be asking you idiot. Was what she desperately wanted to say to him but if she did he be offended, leave and have nothing left to sell him. That would put Jim into a rather foul mood so instead she smiled sweetly and shook her head 'no'.

"Man by the name of Brendon Urie is coming to town." She shrugged as if to say she had no clue who this man was. "The famous singer? Him and his band are coming to perform at this here saloon tonight. Maybe even stay in its inn. You're going to be mighty busy tonight."

She faked a look of anticipation and continued the small talk with him before being whisked away to serve another customer.

I don't see what all the fuss is about? He's just another man that will lie wasted on this floor by midnight.