Saturday: Writing

Once a crazy woman with gray hair held my wrist and asked, "What sign are you?"

I said, "I'm a Capricorn."

She said, "Ah, so you don't believe in justice."

I jerked my hand away. "I fucking believe in justice," I said, raising my voice. "I'll fucking protect the weak with my last breath of life."

I hopped on my bike and rode away.

One night at a club I befriended a nice young woman from the mid-west. We were both entranced by a certain band. She said to me, "I love the singer's eye make up!" I had been admiring it myself, so we became friends. She said, "I'm visiting my friend! She goes to USC!" I grumbled something about my shameful alma mater. She said, "Oh my god! You should meet my friend!"

Her friend, a young woman, was more interested in her frat boy accompaniments than my introduction, so I shrugged her off. The Girl From Wisconsin, however, gripped my hand. "I need to close my tab!" So I went with her to the bar and ordered a Tecate, which they charged me four outrageous dollars for. I gave the tender a one dollar tip, because I could understand the trials of a shitty job.

We returned to the table, where one of the boys put his arms around her, swaying with drunkenness. She shifted her shoulders uncomfortably as he slobbered down her neck. She ducked and found my hand again.

"He says I'm a lesbian cause I don't want to have sex with him," she said, and pulled me closer to the DJ booth.

We were dancing when the young man approached again from behind, sliding his hands down her tits as she attempted to squirm away. "You know, I just don't want to," she begged and he eyed me with a wink.

At which point I lost control, grabbing his collar and pulling him to my face. I growled, "Just because she doesn't want to fuck your two inch dick doesn't make her a dyke."

He threw his hands in the air. "You want to take this outside?"

I said, "I'll fucking kill you."

Hopped up on booze and adrenaline, I looked as crazy as I threatened, and he backed away, as the girl clung to my arm saying, "Liz, no, please no!" I stared him down. I had meant it. I would kill him if I needed to.

He left. I collapsed out of my aggression. "I'm sorry," I said.

"Nono, it's okay."

"That's inappropriate. That's not acceptable. You don't have to put up with that shit. No means no."

"I know, but...." She glanced away. I didn't care. "I have to go."

"Fine."

I tried to enjoy my night. But as soon as I spied her dancing with the dude she had previously rejected, I ducked the hell out of there and rode angrily home.

Writing July 19 2009