Here's an excerpt from a story from my "Flight of Fantasy Collection" which I published in 2013, having drafted the story on first ABCtales. If you watched this year's Superbowl - you might find the dance sequence rings a bell.
THE TICKLED BIRD
(Part 1)
When he later remembered, it had been a night of a supermoon. Julian had followed her into the car park of a pub called The Tickled Bird. He was certain when she had entered her vehicle, she had been wearing a dark grey suit. Under the light of this moon it seemed more green than grey. Perhaps the nearby street lights also added to the effect.
He trailed in the wake of her sleek compact body. She headed straight for the ladies room. He approached the bar, ordered a stout on draught. The pub had an old 1920’s feel which took him back to those black and white movie scenes. Funny how he’d never spotted the place before, though he had driven around the area on numerous occasions. He wouldn’t have missed it. He was certain. Julian tapped his temple, a habit of his when he’d lost something.
The scrawl on the blackboard announced they were serving rhubarb crumble for dessert. He glanced back at the ladies room and to the clock on the wall. She was taking her time. Probably thought the bloke would be worth it. He knew better of course.
He hadn’t eaten a good rhubarb crumble since his grandmother passed away. He ordered some, without custard and scanned for a seat. He paid for the dessert. Half-way on his beeline for a table, the lights dimmed. He sat down as music started pounding that big band ragtime sound. A bunch of bounding dancers appeared in the funnel of a huge spotlight, all dressed in black and white stripes with chess piece headdresses. It was surreal. He dropped his spoon of rhubarb, had a swig of stout instead. They wriggled and pranced around to the beat on the square patch: syncopated animal moves; mixed black bottom rooted ragtime. Then as suddenly as the performance had erupted, it likewise ended. The lights slammed on and he hadn’t even noticed when the dancers left.
She was sat at a table directly opposite him but when he turned to acknowledge the presence of the person standing next to him, she was also there. Julian wasn’t easily spooked. She obviously couldn’t be in two places at once, unless she had a twin he didn’t know about. Maybe the other woman was some sort of decoy?
“Mr Mann, I see you were a touch distracted there.”
“Ahh, Miss Green. I hadn’t realised you’d noticed me. Obviously more going on here than I imagined. Why don’t you have a seat? You seem to have me at a disadvantage presently. Can I get you a drink?” This could provide him with an opportunity to take a closer look at the other woman. He stood up, meeting her height and slant almond brown eyes.
“You know Mr Mann, you’ve put yourself through an awful lot of trouble to just offer me a drink,” spoken with complete control.
“Could be you’re the kind of trouble worth finding Miss Green. Please, have a seat. We can both keep an eye out for your friend.”
“Tut, tut. You’re so presumptuous Mr Mann.” She wagged a verdant polished finger. “Whatever made you think I’m meeting a friend here?” tilting her head but holding her piercing gaze. Julian raised both eyebrows. He twisted the ring on his little finger, idling over his mistake. It was time for him to raise his game. She turned and walked away before he could say another word.
