Scoundrelizing America

Ahhhh, the beautiful Oooooooo klahoma country side. So... flat.
The bus stop is in the ghetto & of course my ride is not there to meet me.
Ahhhh, what's that across the street?
Is it...could it be....

a speak easy?

a night club?
a pub? a dive? a whiskey bar?
Close enough. It's got an Irish name & looks like Chili's threw up on TGI-Fridays, but.
it's open.
and.
there are people there.
Not just people. A cover band is playing.
Playing "the chain", by Fleetwood Mac.
This chick is WAILING!
I walk across the golf course, jay walk across the 4-lane, stop by the conveniently located Bank of the good ol' US (bank with us if you are a patriot), and swagger up to the entrance. The band is playing in a roped off area that is only accessible by going through the pub.
I bite.
Open the door. Walk in.
The jukebox plays "Rock and Roll Nigger" by Patti Smith.
I don't see any in here. Rock and Roll or otherwise. There are, however, some interesting folks at the bar, I notice as I sidle up to get a drink......
......
.......
The cute waitress looks tired.
"Maryanne, another please."
The cute tired waitress tells me her name is not Maryanne without a word.
"Do you mind if I call you Maryanne, Maryanne?" I ask, ever so politely.
She slams my dink down, sloshing a third of it on the bar.
I go all-in on video hold em. Everyone else folds.
Again.
"C'mon people, I'm bluffing!" I say loud enough for everyone in the bar to hear. I'm not really bluffing.
this time.
A semi-cute red head & what I assume is her boyfriend sit next to me at the bar and join the poker game, introducing themselves as Mark & Kristy.
"I wasn't really bluffing", I confide to them.

I sit & play, watch and listen, drink & wait.
I hear Mark & Kristy talking about Kristy's boyfriend, who's a Marine.
In Afghanistan.
And how Mark (being his best friend) and Kristy (being his fiance') are so worried about him. They do seem truly concerned, as they proceed to grope each other & explore one another's upper pallet with their tongues.
I sigh...
Shed a small tear.
Ah, love....
LOVE!

gets me every time