To hear Anna say that Parson Delano was cruel, mean spirited and small, was surprising to most of us dregs that swilled at Red's House of Spirits. Anna and Parson had been running together for the last few years or so. They were there every Saturday, like clockwork, Anna cuddled up under the lapel of Parson's seal skin jacket.

This evening, however, Anna was alone. Red (the third Red since the House of Spirits opened in 1962) was at the end of the bar pouring a JB Black Label for her. I couldn't help noticing that Anna's mascara seemed a little thick and caked under her left eye. "He's a bum and I wish I never met him."
Parson might have reconsidered his evening's itinerary if he had known that Sharon DeMarco was not able to keep either of her sets of lips sealed. It seems Thursday morning, Sharon spoke with her manicurist, Alissa, about Parson's pride. Of course, Saturday at 2:30, between cuticle pushing and the final touch of glitter, Alissa had mentioned it to Anna. Anna left Parson a note at the pharmacy saying that he was a piece of shit and that she never wanted to see him again but if he was anything more than the gutless wonder she had him pegged for, then he could find her at Red's where she would be badmouthing him. And it was reconciliation, not reconsideration on this evening's menu as Parson opened the soft, stuffed, black vinyl upholstered door to Red's.

The small tumbler flew from Anna's left hand and exploded like a cherry bomb, showering Parson's head with glass and whiskey.

"Hey!" Said Red, "None a that you monkeys!"

"Anna What gives?"

"You fucked Sharon DeMarco!!!! You pig. You fuck dog pig!!"

Red Said "Nicky DeMarco's Daughter?"

"Stay out of this Red," said Parson and Anna together.

"Right," said Red and walked back along the bar towards the Madame LaRu pinball .

Parson walked toward Anna, Hey Babes and you okays along the way. "No I am not okay you weasel fucker. You're a stinkin dirtbag liar" and she started to cry. "Anna, it's okay, it was a mistake. I love you angel." " Don't touch me Parson Delano. You are the lowest of the low, and you are never going to touch me again. You said you loved me and was going to get married.." We will," he said.

"When Alissa told me, I felt like when she was pushin my cuticles, that the little pusher thing was going right into my heart. It hurt like nothin I've ever felt. And it was like, real pain. Parson. It was like the most hurtful thing in my entire life, and I wish you was worm bait you fat freak."

"I'm not fat."

"You are. You're almost as fat as Sharon DeMarco."

"Sharon's not fat"

"I can't believe you're defending her."

"I'm not I just wa..."

"Shut up pig, you're not allowed to talk now. I need to think. Red give me another JB."
"Paper cup all right?"

"Fuck you Red, just give me the drink."

The drink came, glass. "Some day Parson, someone is going to hurt you Parson and I'm going to tell you that you won't like it. You won't like it at all."

"Anna please, I'm sorry. Look it was a mistake. It was one of those things that just happens. Look baby, I'll make it up to you."

I asked Red for another JB, red for me, two bits is two bits. Anna, tears and all, looked as tasty as always, and I swear to God, she looked right at me when she said "You'll make it up to me?, How? Are you going to unfuck DeMarco, are you going to unfuck me?"

"I don't know, I will though, I will, please Anna. Anything you want. Anything you say."

"Anything?"

"Yes of course, anything"

"OK come here. You can touch me now." And Parson came over to her and opened his seal coat and wrapped Anna's shoulder under his. I loved her eyes and I could see her breath blowing the little furs. "Okay, kiss me." and he did.

I've seen them kiss a couple of hundred times easy, but I had never seen them kiss like this. Her hands ran through his hair and over his seal shoulders and around his tight jeans and when they split (Parson and Anna, not the jeans) Parson was breathing heavy. I think I could see his breath moving the furs now.

She said "Do you want me?"

"Oh God, yes."

"Good, that's good." And she got up and walked right over to me, almost like it was slow motion. I thought that she was walking towards the bathroom, but her eyes were looking right into mine. She took my hand, the one with all the fingers, and she whispered "Let's take a walk Bennie."
I got up, I knocked over my barstool. She smiled at me. "It's okay, leave it."

Parson yelled across the bar, "Anna, what the hell are you doing."

"Going for a walk.

"With Bennie?"

"It's one of those things that just happens."

And I pushed on the little black buttoned indentation on Red's door. I held it open for her and we just left.

And we walked.

© 1995 Erik Bryan. May not be reproduced without permission.

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