Human Holding Place Part 2

Human Holding Place Part 2

The night club was being rented out for a day as a farewell celebration. A city department head retires he will be given a farewell - the city needed a saving grace - the nightclub was rented for a rare daytime activity.


Inside after all of the salutations and best wishes where given out - some less graceful then others - the drink started to flow and the music played - lightly as linner was being served. The drink and the relative darkness of the club make being a social butterfly a bit easer.

The groups of civic employees clumped out slightly over the edges of the dance floor - project heads and others held a causal court. In the background the food service was being set up. Being near the outer reaches of the bar I was in decent position when the food was being served.


The line stretched out - it looked imposing after the it became clear what was happening. I had good positioning in the first third of the line. The wait for the latecomer would be a bit.

I looked absently over the line - it was moving slowly.


A hand sided into the crook of my arm - a voice twirled by my side. Charm girl was moving was making faces and throwing the killer radiant beam at and around me - the underlying illusion was simple - she was with me - (so not true - the real truth was she did not want to wait in that imposing line for the grub) - but the illusion was being played enough so that no one argued the point - least of all me.

Twirel

Hugn ??

a tugg at my sleeve

what ?!? -

She pointed to the cameraman - a department man who was taking photos of everyone who was just pulling up to the food table - the line after and before gave the courtesy of moving out of the way for each person having there picture taken. This was not even on my radar.

Snap

“click” - flash. blink


A picture of me as the significant other - she positioned me so that it was the classic couple pose - me the taller protector and her joined at the arm. My face betrays the slight cluelessness but you will never notice me in that pic.

My overdrive - effected with drink and intoxicated with attention needed a cold shower. My rational mind knew - knew that I was just a - a non entity meant for her to hang her hat on.. but in my mental state my soul starving - - I needed a cold shower.

The universe provided one quick.

The young man at then end of the catering line was good looking but not in too a overt way. Dark but freckled - kinky hair. Her attention was giving way to an anticipation with HIM -- at the the desert bar - her focus was on the “he’s cute”
In a matter of moments I became TNG Mr Data - a Holding place for her to throw her attention to other - I was keeping her honest for the day. Adult supervision. A slight tug on my arm and away to the table we went. I felt like the hovering older brother.


After a bit of table braggadocio from Charm girl about her bedroom prowess I felt distancing myself from myself. I was enlightened to the source of my misery - the simple fact that I had missed out on the liquid, electric, ebb and flow - attention - that engulfs ones attention with eros 0-0 I had very little of that within my 20’s - the time I would have cherished it the most- lost to me - it was never to happen to me - my 20’s where done - done.

Later I came back to the desert bar - I mentioned to him she was attracted - he had some one - I asked what he wanted to beyond catering - he said acting - after a bit I told him that the universe has a way of opening up doors even it they seem closed -


He thanked me - it was something he did not hear often - a reassurance about his worth here in LA pursuing something...
..later in the day - with Charm girl -I asked he about the caterer-- well ? --

She said - she had a second look - it wore off quickly.

I noted that I was not a first looker - she just stared at me with a I don’t believe you look.

I got a ride back to the office.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Later that month -- I knew my run in the department was over. I was cleaning up as much as I could.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Did your clear out the fire station ? - the boss asked - we where converting a San Pedro fire station to a youth arts center.

Ya - typing up a doc for General Services Salvage - those old IBM PC’s are heavy. I have a truckload to drop off.

Well get them to salvage.

I’ll go to Piper after lunch.

Before you do that can you get down to development - they need a move out for the printing computer.

Right.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I connected the computer to the printer - she was there - looking a bit punch drunk with a massive pile she was sorting.

She leapt up - had enough and wanted a break. Her arm slips around mine. I walked out of the office and went down with her arm and arm. - I was cool.

She was slightly delirious with work and Westwood. Gave me a goofy look and then moved her head on my arm. - Then in a bit of surprise she moved her hand around my arm and gave my biceps and triceps arm a squeeze

I had just spent the afternoon moving heavy equipment...I had also been working out simi regularly - my arm was solid
Her eyes lit up in surprise - CAD had a very casual dress code for the non full timers, I usually did the geek with glasses look -- She woke up - and did something the I did not expect - she moved her hand quickly over my chest area - roughly the outer pec and then gave that area a quick squeeze - it was very solid ----her facial expression was one of pleasant surprise she looked me as if she uncovered Clark Kent was hiding a bit of superman.


I walked on and gave a very slight smile. And a very sight nod as if to say - Ok you got me --- there is a lot more to me that you don’t know....

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


My final week - I was sent to rearrange the PC’s at the development office.

The setup was complex - the configuration was detailed with different databases. - I was there most of the morning. The focus needed kept me glued to the screen.

Charm girl was tasking out in the background. I went to lunch and brought her back a salad.

She kibitzed a bit on my job - in the conversation she lent a bit of an opening regarding my relationship status -we where both in one with other people - - a part of me awakens -- a part that has never been awaken and had the slightly a bit evil..... I tilt my head slightly the the left...

“tell ya what - when you get rid of him - call me”

She blinks - I have awakened a braggadocio (self confidence?!?!) that is alien to my nature but with her feels natural with her.
She rips a bit of note book paper - and writes down her phone number and name. It the first number I have ever petitioned for (indirectly) and received.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Winds of Spring street

Walking out of the office to catch the bus I have my mind on the piece of paper in my wallet - without too much effort on my part I have what I would have killed for in my 20’s.

The cost of pursuing this train of thought in action was just too high but I liked the ego boosting overtones.
It was windy - the ball of hand shredded paper flew down Spring street twisting then falling into the gutter. ...


I never saw her again.