A Nice Mouse
The next week I had some time off coming my way. I decided I’d spend it at the beach. First, though, I wanted to find me a mouse to spend it with. A real cool chick, one that wouldn’t turn up her nose at a romp in the sack, or sand.
This one girl, a waitress at the Flamingo, had been eyeing me for a while now and I decided to ask her. Joy wasn’t as bombshell as some of the girls around, but she had a cute little turned-up nose. I asked her if she wanted to got to beach that weekend and she said “yeah.” I told her I’d pick her up that night at eight and we’d hit Max’s casino before we split for the sand and surf.
I packed a bag and showered and shaved. At eight o’clock, I was in front of the Flamingo, car running and waiting. She came out in a black satin dress that clung in all the right places. The rocket in my pocket didn’t really feel like going to the casino, but I had to play it cool if I wanted to sack this one. And I did.
We rolled up to the casino about ten minutes later and I tossed my keys to the valet. He got in and we entered the casino proper.
This place wasn’t like the Flamingo. It was more old school. The machines and tables were all farther back. You had to pass through the hotel lobby and past the restaurant and lounge before you found the tables. We weren’t there for the gambling, though. We turned in at the lounge and found a nice table in the middle. We were there for a show.
We ordered drinks and instead of the waitress bringing them to us, Max did. He said he’d seen us walk in and wanted to have drinks with us before the show. We invited him to join us at the table and he accepted. I introduced him to Joy and they shook hands.
“Lovely girl,” he said. She blushed and took a sip of her drink. I think she had gotten a daiquiri or something. I had ordered a scotch on the rocks. I nodded and took a sip of my drink, too. Max didn’t have anything, but he didn’t seem to mind. He kept taking small swigs from a hip flask. When I asked him, he said it had bourbon in it.
“So, how’s the casino business?” I asked him. He looked a bit startled, then smiled.
“Good, good. How’s the bouncing business?”
I chuckled and nodded at him. After another sip, I said, “Going great. I meet the nicest people.” We all three smiled and laughed quietly.
“I think I need to powder my nose,” Joy said, and Max volunteered to show her were the staff restroom was. They left and I sat down to really enjoy my drink. I finished it and ordered another before Max returned.
“Looks like a great girl,” he said, sitting down again.
“Yeah. She’s pretty fun,” I said. “Don’t really know her that well, though. We’re going for a weekend at the beach, near L.A. Should be fun.”
He nodded. “Yeah. L.A.’s great. You’ll like it there a lot, I think. The worst part is the drive between here and there. You’ll think you’re driving over the same stretch of highway for hours. Nothing out there but sand and sky.”
“Yeah.”
We sat there until Joy came back. She seemed flushed and nervous, but that could have just been for being on a date. She asked me if I wanted to get an earlier start and miss the show. It wasn’t anyone famous, just some crooner from back East so I agreed. I dropped a couple of dollars on the table to pay for the drinks and a tip and we left. Max walked with us, on the other side of Joy, and helped her into her side of the car.
I started the car up and Max leaned in the passenger window. “You kids have fun. Do me proud.” He patted the car and we drove off.