By SJ
Date: 26 October 1998

Just What Does Keri Know, Anyway?

"Well…I'm ignoring my friends.  I'd better run along and see what they are up 
to."  I politely say to this attractive blonde sitting at the bar, whom I just 
met.  Out of the corner of my eye I can see my friends trying to watch 
inconspicuously from the other end of the bar, crowded with pretentious, late 
twenty somethings.  I give her a warm smile and caress her hand in a loose 
interpretation of a handshake.  "But it was definitely nice meeting you, Sarah. 
I'm sure we'll talk again."  Sarah gives my hand a gentle squeeze as I pull it 
away and begin to turn and depart.  She smiles and her eyes don a rehearsed, 
but sexy, gaze. She replies.  "I'll be looking forward to it.  Don't leave 
without saying goodbye."  As I walk off I placate her with "Oh…I will, sweetie."
and yet another forced smile.

Back among my friends, I reclaim my original seat at the bar. No sooner had I 
a sat down, a fresh drink was placed next to me.  A genuinely warm grin 
effortlessly dresses my face. "And what do we have here?" I query my benefactor,
a sexy brunette behind the bar.   Keri responds with a devious twinkle in her 
eye and "Don't ask questions, honey.  Don't you trust me?"  Something about Keri
I could never really put my finger on.  Like she could take one look into my 
eyes, read me like a book, and knows just what to do.  "Only you, Keri.  I trust
you."  Just then I feel an arm around my shoulder as my buddy, Will, leans over 
and whispers in my ear "Dude.  When are you going to do something about that?  
You're killing me here.  I really think Keri likes you."  With a declining wave 
of my hand, "Look, Will.  I wouldn't want to jeopardize the relationship I have 
with her now."  Will looks at me with puzzled, blood shot eyes.  "What the hell 
relationship are you talking about?"  I laugh and explain. "Client - bartender 
relationship.  I like Keri just the way she is.  She takes care of me just 
fine."  Will shakes his head in frustration and wanders off to interrupt some 
female conversations.

"Well?!"  With Will's exit, Casie is next up to bat.  She has that concerned 
look on her face again.  "Well….what?"  I ask back.  Casie flips her hands up 
and shakes her head in an inquiring motion.  "What about the blonde you were 
just talking to over there?!  What's the story?  Did you get a number?  What's 
the deal?"  Casie is always so adoringly concerned about my social situation.  
My eyes roll at her and I reply. "Ahhh.  She attractive and all…but…"  Casie's 
frustration jumps in.  "BUT WHAT?!"  I grin, shrug of my shoulders: "I don't 
know.  She just wasn't my type.  I just wasn't into her."  All fired up now, 
Casie starts to spout off at me.  "Aah!  They are never your type.  It's always 
something.  She's not smart enough, you don't like her hairstyle, she's not 
demure enough, you don't like the way she dresses, she's too this, she's too 
that, she smells like soup!"  I crack up laughing at the last remark and almost 
spill my drink, but that doesn't stop Casie's ranting.  "I just don't get you!  
Look at her.  She's beautiful. She obviously is attracted to you.  Go get her 
number!"  she demands.   I'm still giggling about the soup comment so the best 
I can muster up in reply is just another shrug of my shoulders and "Uhhh…maybe 
later."  She gives me a stern look.  "You'd better." What choice have I got?  I 
can't say no to that?  "Okay, okay.  I will, I will."  And with that Casie 
blurts out "You'd better!" and storms off to track down her boyfriend amidst 
the meat market crowd.

With a deep sigh of relief (to be done with Casie's assault), I take sip of 
Keri's valued concoction.  A familiar snickering catches my ear and I noticed 
Bill a few stools away clutching a martini and finding amusement in the little 
dramas that seem to barrage me.  Bill says nothing.  Just giggles and takes 
another drink.  No words are needed here.  He knows me well enough, including 
the answer to the others' bewilderment.  And somehow I take comfort in that and 
begin to laugh too.  Keri sneaks a glass a wine and the three of us raise our 
glasses to a secret toast.  And once again, I drink more of Keri's magic 
medicine…hoping it will help me to forget.  Forget about…Dawn.  Forget how much 
I'm still in love with her.  Oooh.  I'd better order another.  "Keri…"