A-One Night Kind of Thing
She sat across the room, staring into her phone.
Or was she just staring at her hand? Or the table? You can never tell at these joints, the lights are always so dim.
But anyway, she’s sitting across the room, on a stool that wasn’t fit for anyone’s rear, let alone hers (I’m just guessing because again I can’t really see in this dark ass room!).
Her hair is falling into her eyes, but she doesn’t seem to mind. She’s transfixed at whatever’s on the table in front of her. It’s like she doesn’t even care that she’s literally the most radiant person at this place.
I have to talk to her. What should I say? How do I even begin a conversation with someone so … above me?
I fidget with my glass, contemplate getting another drink before realizing that I need my sober self at this very moment. I need the man that’s been able to muster just any kind of speech with a woman before.
Should I ask her about her shirt? It looks pretty cool…No! Of course not, then she’ll know you’ve been staring at her this whole time. What about her job, she seems like she’d do something interesting…But then you’ll seem like you’re trying to stalk her. Does she even want some guy to come up to her right now? Would I be intruding in her time and space like most guys usually end up doing? Am I the creepy guy at the bar that woman dread talking to??!!
“Ladies and Gentleman, Good Evening, we hope y’all are having the very best of nights. We’re hoping to get the show running soon, our saxophonist is just a give a slight issue with his instrument of choice. You know how saxophonists are.”
The crowd chuckled ever so slightly, the kind of chuckle that only really happens in the intimate setting of a New York jazz club. “Get comfortable folks because once we start playing, you’re not gonna want to leave. I guarantee it.”
Oh nice, well at least I got some more time to sit in my indecision.
The air around the woman was sultry as if the music had already started and was resonating off her. She just kept radiating, for no reason other than because she could.
C’mon you gotta say something. What if she’s the one? And this is the night you’ll be telling your grandchildren about…ok wow I'm deeply overthinking what a casual conversation might look like with her.
The drummer began tapping at way at his high hat, unaware that this was making me even more anxious. Aw crap they’re getting ready to start.
The trumpet started with his first note, and then another, and before long he and the drummer had started a riff that they were completely lost in. The buzz of the audience was starting to die down and I realized that my hopes were too.
Well shit it really is now or never.
I put the glass down and started my approach. The hum of the music started to grow, slowly but steadily. One note after the other, the piano jumped in and added her little bit of spice. The bassist started plucking away too, creating acoustic gold, the perfect soundtrack for my walk over to her.
She stopped looking at the table and her eyes rose, transfixed on the magic happening before her. Who could blame her, the band was already on fire and they hadn’t even technically started their set. As the volume rose from the stage my anxiety and doubts started to melt away, and I found myself grooving over more than I did walking. I found my rhythm and was gliding towards this divine beauty, I but a humble man that was looking for something real tonight.
I didn’t know the words that I was gonna speak but the music made it feel like I did. And that’s all the encouragement I needed to try.
The tempo was starting to pick up, the melody becoming ever more complicating and my confidence was literally at an all-time high. The lights began to dim yet she still radiated so brightly. How could I not come over and say hi.
10 ft away. “Ladies and gentleman we hope that you can excuse the wait, but we’re excited to get started and give you the night out you all deserve.”
5 ft. “Let me introduce myself, my name is Leanord Floyd, and I am in fact the unfortunate saxophonist I mentioned earlier.”
3 ft. She joins everyone in a collective chuckle. Her smile is brilliant. “If you’ll indulge us tonight, I think you’ll be pleased with what we’ve got.”
1 ft. She turns her in my direction and I finally lock eyes with those beautiful deep blue pupils that have eluded me all night. Her expression isn’t outright disgust, so I guess I’m in clear for now.
“Hi, do you mind if I sit with you? I came through alone and I can’t really find anywhere else to sit.” Which was true, except I didn’t really look very hard. Because I knew where I wanted to sit.
“Sure, if you’d like to sit with me, be my guest.” She said it so playfully, the start of a game that we knew we were both about to start.
“I couldn’t think of a better spot than right here,” I said with my own smile shining through. I couldn’t tell where this night was going to go, but at least I get to join in her radiance for a little while.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the show!”
And oh boy it’s absolutely electric.
