The Dragon and Birds Nest Hair
The
Dragon and Birds Nest Hair
She was
quite young. No more than thirty. Difficult to get a good description. She was
blonde that much was obvious and she was plastered in makeup. She never really
looked his way just towards the stage so he could not clearly see her face.
However the overall impression he got was a girl who was most likely agreeable
looking with a cute trim figure. That was about it. At the interval he left. He
did not really want to but the embarrassment he was suffering made it
impossible for him to stay. But then again the empty seat beside him suggested
a broken date perhaps. So maybe he did not mind leaving after all.
Crispin
Smithers was an astute, sensible and well rounded man. Twenty nine and just
completed the rigours of medical training. Now a junior doctor in a large
teaching hospital. Enjoying it, possibly, depending on when you ask. After a
long strenuous and stressful shift the answer would be a definite negative. His
intelligence a given. His good looks obvious. A well presented six footer with
all the right attributes and good bits in all the right places. Short brown
hair and what some might term a soft face. No hard features here.
The nearest
pub was only a brisk ten minutes away and he ended up there just before it
rained. Ordered a pint of the best foaming and settled into the corner hoping
something would happen. Ten minutes and in popped his mate. Frisky Daniels. Frisky
because he is a bubble about to burst. Like the bubble the result of the cork
shifting on a bottle of sparkling. Flying anywhere. A random person. Speaks at
two hundred miles an hour. You could not tell if he is animated but tonight he
gave as much impression of that as is possible.
“Crispin old
fruit hoped you might be lurking in the vicinity.”
“What’s
occurring then Frisk old chap. You look a touch damp”
“Pissing.
It’s dam well pissing and tonight of all nights.”
“What’s so
special then. To be stuffed by a bit of precipitation?”
"A date
that’s what. A bloody date. And I’m all messed up. The jacket’s a wet rag and
the Barnet is, well it's just a bird’s nest. A bloody birds nest.”
“Hang on
it’s not that bad. Want a beer?”
“Yeah. Same
as you please.”
“Back in a
jiff.”
“There you
go get that down your neck. When’s this date?”
“Not for two
hours at least. Julie. Met her last night, late, after the show down the road.
She’s playing some wife or another that ends up dead. Shot in the neck or something.
Anyway she was in the pub and chucked her drink all over me. Made me buy her
another. Gin and some other stuff. Can’t remember what. Said it was my fault.
Something about rushing and tearing. I don’t know about that. But there you
are. We talked and arranged it. For tonight. About eleven. At that pub the
what’s it. Down the lane opposite the theatre. Not as close as this. I hope it
stops raining. First date got to look good. I suppose. A blond. Cute figure.”
“The Dragon.
You mean the Dragon I think.”
“Yes, that’s
the chap. Nice place. Where all the theatre boffs go. Cast as well. Landlady’s
got an ample chest. Good attraction. You know the one. You said once. About the
chest. Anyway why on your own?”
“She didn’t
turn up. Waited outside but a no show. Made me late but went in anyway. Didn’t
know her. Had just met her in the cafe, you know the one down near the chippie.
We go there for breakfast after work. The night shift. The place was crammed so
I sat on her table. She was the only one. I did ask and she said “no problem.”
We had a chat, as you do, and she ended saying “got two tickets for the show
Saturday night would you like to come?” That was it. Do you know I forgot to
ask her name and I’m blowed if I can really remember what she looked like. Dark
hair and pretty is about all.”
“Why don’t
you come. To the Dragon. There’s sure to be other cast members there. The place
is always packed anyway. It’s not a me and her date. Loads of people so you
won’t intrude. Come on why not.”
“Well. You
sure. About cutting in on your date and all. Don’t want to end up in the way.
You know what I mean.”
“No problem
Crispy. I’m inviting you so you can’t refuse. Frisk’s rules. No invitation can
ever be refused.”
That was it.
Frisky brushed his mop and his jacket dried out. It had stopped raining. Took
thirty minutes to reach The Dragon. Straight into the heaving mass of
semi-drunk and raucous theatre types. Julie at the bar with several others. All
chatting. Loudly to get over the overall row. Everyone boisterous on a Saturday
night. The place really buzzing with that middle evening zip when enough has
been drunk but not enough to be ruined. She saw Frisky and jumped up a bit
waving frantically. Gesticulating to get his attention.
“Over here.”
She was yelling. No hope of hearing but the flapping arms caught their attention.
“Hi Julie
this is Crispin a fellow Junior dogsbody thingy. Hope you don’t mind me
dragging him along. Found him in a dark corner. Looked lost and lonely. So here
we are.”
“What’s to
mind. We are all here. Most of the cast are somewhere around. Even the got to
get home married ones.”
Crispin was
staring. Not at Julie. At the girl next to her.
“Why did you
not turn up? And what’s your name anyway?”
“Laura. I’m
a Laura and I was there you just did not recognise me.”
“Not sure
about that. Seem to remember waiting outside then sitting on my ownsome.”
“I was there
on stage you saw me all right. I saw you. Enticed you. Made you look.”
“Right. Ok
right. But you were blonde. Oh I see a wig. And the reluctance to look my way. I
see. I see.”
“I meant to
meet you but got stuck in traffic. Explain before we went in. My contract
includes the two end seats of the front row left hand stalls. Always for family
and friends. You know my guests. So they can see the play. I had the seats free
so thought you might like to come. I intended to see you after but you left.”
“Embarrassed
is the truth. You kept sticking your backside in my face.”
“You didn’t
like it then. I was playing with you.”
“Well I
would have liked it. Liked it very much if I had known. The playful thing I
mean. Would be ecstatic in different circumstances.”
“Then we
will just have to create a situation won’t we. Later maybe. Want a drink? My
shout.”
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