Welcome

The wind blows through my hair, and I can hear the boats shiftand creak in the slips that litter the shore. A dark night in acity that knows how to keep its secrets; but the dark doesn'tbother me as much as it does those around me, as they rush towardsour mutual destination, the bar on the next block. Or maybe they'rehurrying to move past the rough-looking guy finishing his cigaretteon the steps of City Hall - me.

I emerge from the oppressive dark into the dim cast by the opendoor of the bar. Inside, people are circling, eyeing up the otherpatrons, ordering the elixir that will oil the laughter for someand carry others to the edge of consciousness. The waitresses arestalking around in their matching outfits, like Barbie dollswearing clothes they don't sell in toy stores.

Three people take the stage. The band. Tonight's entertainment.I'm not interested. I'm here to drink myself into amnesia; maybethis time I'll be able to drown the memories of the car's taillights disappearing into the dark, the night she drove away for thelast time.

The first notes reach out across the crowded room to slap myattention back to the stage. Surprise, surprise; they're not bad. Afew songs later, they're good enough to make me think that maybe Ishould put down the old-fashioned and ask that blonde in the cornerto take a spin on the dance floor. Can't live in the pastforever.