“Man, I gotta get out of this place,” Denny says to the bartender who’s writing a novel. “Square root of nothing. Playing and playing in the bar, and all it’s leading to is more playing and playing. Where are the women who were supposed to be chasing me? Where are the chicks? See that brunette at the end of the bar with the red nails and rasta curls? She’s like a bored cat. She blinks her eyes and turns away.”
“Where’s the money and fame? I’d settle for fame. And chicks.” Denny taps a brisk tattoo on the counter.
“You can write that in your book. Page one: Denny’s leaving.”
“Here, get me another mojito. I’ve got five minutes before the next set.”
“But this is what I wanted. A life in music. Even when I was a kid, I dreamed about playing riffs and chords and tunes all night. To have music coming out of my fingers and going out to the dancers and out into the universe. What a connection–destroying time and space. I thought it would be paradise. And here I am in paradise.” Denny finishes his drink.
“Now that brunette is smiling at me. She’s tapping those red nails. Sounds like a tango.” A smile flashes across his face in the icy neon light. “Maybe I’ll stay.”
Peppy, real, comical. Love the voice in it. Thank you for this piece!
Yes. I know this character.
Really nice. Great energy, strong details, interesting insight.
Wonderful writing. I loved the image of music coming out his fingers into the dancers and thence into the universe.
Nice snapshot from the music/bar scene–and on the money, according to my friends in that business.
Very nice, short and full.
Great insight with economic phrasing, grace and reality! Good writing
I dated this character!