Audrey Hepburn's Pearls: Part I

Chapter 50.2: 1968, Georgina

Chapter 50.2: 1968, Georgina

 

"Siempre que te pregunta~, que cuando como donde~, tu siempre me respondes~, quizas, quizas, quizas~"

Listening to the sweet Spanish tones of Cha Cha on stage, I flipped over a silver cup of gin and shook a martini dry. I noticed a few patrons along the bar were staring at me as I did this. No matter how many times this happened, it still creeped me out. I'd never get used to men's looks, gay or straight.

"Y as pasan los dias~, Y yo desprando~"

A pour and a middling swirl. Pluck up the lemon twist and plop. Slide across the bar. Take the money.

"Quizas, quizas, quizas."

"Bud, please."

Oh, someone was being polite. Straight pour from the tap. Slide. Take the money. I didn't even see his face, I was working too fast. But that was okay. I'd rather not see their faces.

A few seconds to idle and-

"Pink lady for table twelve. Another beer. He didn't say what kind."

Genesis.

"But if he didn't say what kind then how do I know? What table is it?"

"Its your boyfriend."

"Oh." My cheeks went pink. "That's a Heineken, then."

"You sweet thing. I can see you blushing in the dark."

"Here." Straight pour from the tap, a sweet pour, to the very top with foam. He liked the foam. "Take it to his booth." Halfway to Genesis' hand, I pulled it back. "Wait." I marked the glass with my baby pink lipstick, just for him. "Now, here."

"Gross," Genesis laughed, taking it with the least amount of fingers possible.

"Oh, come on. You'd have done the same for Felix."

"Yeah, you're right," he chuckled. "Make that pink lady."

"Okay. I'll have it by the time you come back."

"Yup."

No time to watch him walk away, no matter how much I would have liked to have seen Frankie receive my gift. I was sure I'd receive my gift back later.

"Ests perdiendo el tiempo pensando, pensando?"

A quick glance up at the stage before I turned around. Special soft pink lighting was washing over Cha Cha's small form, illuminating the orange and yellow sequins of his long dress along with the accompanying sequins on his headband. I'd hot glued that matching headband and the sunset organza flowers on that dress myself. They cascaded beautifully, like living art, as if they were floating flowers in the surf of a sparkling Hawaiian sunset. We'd get through this sewing dry spell without Paulie just fine. If only Felix the wizard were here to do it, then we'd be golden.

"Whiskey sour."

Oh wait, the pink lady.

"One moment. Please wait, sir."

"No need to call me 'sir'."

I didn't respond to this light flirt, instead gathering the ingredients for the pink lady. Unfortunately due to my little daydream, Genesis was back before I was finished.

"Pink lady?" his Louisiana drawl said behind me like a poke to my back.

"Give me a second."

"Your wrist still hurting or something?" This was kind.