The
Airport Bar Password...
★★★★★
"Hey,
Ron," Jamie said, leaning out of his driver side window. Ron turned around
with a hopeful smile on his face. The comedian continued, "You won't know
how lucky you are until you lose her," and rolled up his window.
He
circled around the lit-up fountain, tacked right in the center of a tiny oval
field, and drove down Pennsylvania Avenue. The red taillights reflected off of
the windows of the various storefronts lining the road, laying dark and
deserted. A handful of spotlights beamed on the Capitol Building's dome,
casting a mirror image of it onto the dark clouds.
The
saxophone's brass tones, coupled with the plucking of the mandolin's strings,
drifted out from the ballroom. It had a dreamlike quality, and reminded Ron of
unicorns. But, the peace was thrown out the window when he kicked open the
twelve-foot-tall bronze doors. On the stage, a man strummed his painted
mandolin, inlaid with a woman's face in jade.
Ron
scoured the crowd for Barb, and leapt down to the ballroom's checkered dance
floor. Toward the center, couples dressed in formal suits and flowy dresses
slow danced. On the outskirts, people mingled with each other and chatted. The
dining tables were arranged in a heart shape, which seemed to annoy everyone.
"This
is a lame party," Dr. House said, leaning heavily on his cane. "I
wish they'd bring out all of the Vicodin-coated Vicodin."
"Have
you seen Barb?" Ron asked him. He also watched as people crashed onto the
tables, irritated with the layout. Ron couldn't tell if they were doing it on
purpose.
Dr.
House was in the process of setting a terrible joke. "I think she bumped
into the President." He laughed, "I believe she was driving."
A
lone spotlight was cast on Ron as he attempted to jump on the stage, but
slumped over while trying to climb up. The writer held his hand up above his
head to block out the light. "What the hell?" the musician muttered
after Ron stole his microphone.
It
emitted a high-pitched ringing sound, and caught the audience's attention.
"Barb," Ron started, tearing up. "Wherever you are, I'm sorry."
He scanned the crowd for the better half of five seconds before giving up. He
turned around, defeated, and there she was.
"May
I have the pleasure of a dance with you?" Barb asked, holding Ron's hand.
She wore Laura's sequin dress, shimmering under the spotlight. Everything was a
blur until he saw her. Ron remarked at his wife's stunning beauty, and the now
naked Laura in the audience.
"I'm
so surprised you want to dance with me now," he smiled and cried tears of
joy. "I was just getting used to living life without you around."
He
twirled her around, and held her in his arms as the musician played
"Tampico Trauma" on his mandolin, and all of the others joined
in.
★★★★★
Written
by Jerry Zervas on 4/3/26.
DO
NOT USE UNLESS GIVEN PERMISSION BY ME (i.e. email me)
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