#30- End Scene: Another True Scene One Night in"The Scene" by Samantha Jones "Mr.24"

Max the dog woofed. Then he woofed again. He often wakes me up this way at six a.m. His black eyes stare at me through his white dog bangs and when my eyes open he wags his tail like its Christmas. Its the little things that matter to Max. I learn from him.

I creaked my eyes open after a long night at Odessa's and suddenly found myself smiling. My sister and I played at Grudge Match with a list of other amazing acts. When I perform I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing. It calms me and the worry goes away because I'm being productive. Changing peoples lives with my work. My art. Working with my sister makes it like good chocolate.

After the show we all scurried to Odessa. Penny was bar tending and missed the fun. We wanted to bring it to her. One by one we arrived. Penny was thrilled and we all gladly fell into the empty seats at the bar. As we assembled with our fresh beverages and congratulated each other for a show well done, I made my way over to Marsha.

Marsha is always so damn relaxed, which is nice because I'm usually bursting with energy and finding it difficult to just chill. She was sitting at the bar chatting with a perfectly normal person-a guy- and seemed to be relaxed and enjoying herself.

So, since I like Marsha I went over to her to chat. Which we did. What about I can't recall until she abruptly left. Which was odd. We chatted until she suddenly disappeared and left me.... with this guy. Alone. He just looked at me....and smiled.

It seemed no one knew this man. I'd never seen him at the mic but he seemed to fit into the crowd and in he very least I thought Marsha knew him. I just assumed I'd missed seeing him perform while I was away. I often meet up with everyone and have to be caught up on everything. I never seem to know whose dating who or any other relevant information. This guy sweetly sat there eager to chat with me so I sat. I looked over at Marsha and she was wandering around with Joe and then they went outside.

After a few gentle questions on my part I quickly discover this man attended the mic for the first time last week. A week I wasn't there.But he really knew Penny because he was more a regular at this bar than the scene. Um...ok. Regardless of who he knew, it seemed I'd been assigned to him for some reason. Maybe people thought he could be a possible...date? Maybe I thought he could be a date. My thoughts on dating people are pretty random and unclear at times. Why should this guy be any different. Let's say, I was open I suppose. It' was hard to tell anything until I got my bearings. I was confused but chatty. I'd had some gin. Gin makes me chatty.

Easily a half hour went past and I found myself tired from his list of questions and mine. He grew up in NYC, as I did. When two natives find each other its hard to stop talking. An hour passed and suddenly "the scene" was watching. Marsha and Joe were back and it seemed all eyes were on me. Not blatantly, sneakily. They all watch without watching. I can feel them.

Birch was next to me hunched over his beer and he gave me a raised eyebrow when I suddenly noticed he was there the whole time. Joe was on his other side and peered around with a devious and curious gaze. I was definitely being set up...or something. Or maybe they just all thought I was picking him up. I suddenly became aware that perhaps there was something about this guy I didn't know...and they all did. At that precise moment Penny galloped by like a unicorn and plopped another gin and tonic in front of me. She's the devil.

Suddenly-"Madame Instigator" Marsha comes back and immediately starts grilling this guy about why he's hitting on me...and her...and us. I hadn't realized he was doing so, but suddenly I was in the middle of a demand for complete honesty and I loved it! Marsha has a clever grin on her face and demanded answers. It was as if he had some nerve! Why, I had no idea. I mean you can hit on whomever you want I suppose, but Marsha was beaming with happy outrage. He got a devious but grin across his face and I realized she was right. I suddenly felt embarrassed.The whole thing suddenly made me feel twelve and I didn't know why. I look at Marsha with confusion all over my face. She paused. Smiles. And then exclaimed,

"Sam! He's 24!"

24?????? 24?????......Twenty-four? I suddenly knew why they'd all been watching. It was this final puzzle piece. Yes- he was cute. Yes he was nice...but twenty four? Good god. I was warned about this from a friend of mine who has had a whole career of dating younger men. I didn't believe it would happen to me.... until now. The word cougar is coming up a lot around me and I ddont like it because it makes me sound like the predator. Its quite the reverse! They want me! I have no interest in anyone under thirty-three quite frankly. So instead of calling me a cougar, these young men should call me....I dunno...an ageist?

In my stunned state Marsha suddenly disappears again. She's like a fairy godmother and a court jester all in one dropping bombs of reality all around us. I feel even more awkward as Mr. 24 moves one stool closer to me. Penny appears like a magical tempter and tops off my gin and tonic...again. She flies away and Mr 24 goes in for the kill.

"What do you like about me the most?"

I sit their stunned. He has a look in his eye I can't quite believe. He is now OPENLY hitting on me. How can he be twenty four? No men in their twenties asked me questions like this when I was in my twenties. It's real and in my face and there's no one there to buffer the situation. He waits for my answer and I feel blind sighted because I'd been talking to him for at least an hour and couldn't think of one damn thing I liked.

I laugh hoping to dismiss the question. Silence. He just looks at me. Why couldn't I just be in my twenties, this would make this so much easier and I could make out with him and have it be over. I scramble in my head for something. Anything. Please god give me something nice to say to this person. Then it occurs to me:

" You're very up front. Straight forward"

A pause. His eyes blink. I may as well have said you have an excellent crease in your slacks. I quickly change the subject to one of my favorites:

"You should really perform at the mic. .." What am I saying? "Its like a magical train wreck." Sam shut up! Stop inviting him places! "Really inspiring and amazing. It will change your life"

That does it. He interprets my diversion as a heartfelt interest in his work as an artist....which he isn't...he a roadie. I'm insane and I can't stop talking.

I quickly excuse myself to the ladies room. I need a breather. I feel like a jerk! After looking in the mirror to make sure I'm still thirty eight years old I head back out to the bar. He's gone...HE'S GONE! Or he's hiding. I look at the front door and I see him leave. I feel relieved and sad all at once. Poor guy. I would've been interested if I was younger. I think. Yeah I would've. I think.

Joe is in Mr.24's seat. Perfect. Men in their thirties are more relaxed than guys in their twenties. It's like they've been through enough relationships to know better and also have the confidence there are more out there. But there's no need to rush. Joe sips his beer I settle down to yet another gin and tonic filled to the rim.

"Don't move! If he comes back you stay seated right here".

Joe agrees without hesitation. Buffer intact.

This story was published in the Amuze ZINE- October Issue 2009