Life begins at dawn

Chapter 1

A hazy feeling came over me. The kind of feeling you get when you are recovering from a migraine or a hangover. Hangover…I smiled as the events of the previous night slowly filtered down to my inert state. Flashing lights and a thudding disco beat vividly resounded in me as if I was reliving the night. I wouldn’t mind :)…

My name is Aaron Smith, third son of a man I’m ashamed to call my father. To make it worse I’m a bastard kid-pardon my French. Yeah…I’m a result of an untimely encounter which might be the story on another day but not today. Today I’m basking in the glory that is the remnants of last night. I close my eyes and the night is born again.

A bulky guy stands guard in an alley. His Versace suit an obvious outlier in a dump like this. “Yo Smith my man!!!” His booming voice shakes the daylights out of a rat that was walking the plank and a tiny squeek distracts me for a second. “In the flesh bro, whats up?” This is Chimme, we go way back- well…not really.. You see, I was kind of a bully back in high school. Well, bully is a strong word- lets say I was the Al Pacino of Westville High. We can also say that the kid that was stuffed into a locker with a starving badger on Prom night grew up to be Chimme. “Same old shit,just a different day man”

I size him up from a safe distance- he looks big but lets say the gym isn’t his port of call in this universe..”I hear you man,whats the damage?” I pull out my wallet- in an exaggerated manner so that he would see my gun.”Nah,…this one is on me bro” There is a thing about scaring him that always makes my day — I’m sad like that I guess. He opened the door and a wave of hot air greeted me as I stepped into the hottest spot in the city, Club 69 — emphasis on the 69. A glance around the scene told me that tonight was going to be one of those epic nights. I spotted a red-head at the bar- legs which go for miles, just enough lipstick,no makeup — a refreshing change of pace in place filled with hardcore ratchets. I straightened up my jacket, whispered to myself ‘I’m going in’-and made my way through the crowd.

“Vodka Martini, shaken not stirred” She looked at me and smiled, impression made indeed. “I see someone is either a James Bond wannabe or you’ve got good taste in cocktails” she said with the silkiest of voices. I’m a sucker for sweet voices.. she could tie me up and throw me in the pan- I was caught, hook, line and sinker. “If you think I have great taste in cocktails you should see the women I go out with. “ I feigned a wink and smiled back — trying hard not to grin at the James Bond reference.. Me??? Bond??? Well I never….

“Beautiful?” she inquired, adjusting herself so that I had full view of my very own Van Gough. For a first catch, she wasn’t as hostile as women usually are when they are sober or full of themselves. She oozed that soothing and inviting atmosphere,luring me into conversation with just a look ,never shying away — a strong willed woman. “No — impeccable” She laughed lightly and looked at her watch, absently sipping her drink as she evidently drifted from the present. Some watch -I thought, or maybe her date was late — I shuddered at the thought…No — I preferred to dwell in the thought of the watch being the problem, call me naive..

She stood up and walked away, my jaw dropping by the inch as she melted into the crowd -I was confused and at a loss for words as well. To make it worse, I didn’t even know her name — calling out “Ey beautiful” would only result in me grabbing the attention of the low-life women of the night lurking nearby. I took a seat and drank to my luck- rotten as it was.

She hadn’t openly rejected me so that was a plus.. With that I decided to call it a night and tend to my bruised ego. I asked for my check and when I saw it I couldn’t help but smile.

I’m sorry I had to leave so abruptly — duty calls, hope I bump into you soon.

Claudette.

Claudette huh? The famous Everly brothers’ song came to mind — I don’t think of myself as a hopeless romantic but I found myself waltzing to the lyrics ‘ …whenever I want you, all I have to do is dream..’ as I made for the exit. And dream I would indeed..

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