Chapter06 - Prospects
Driving from the airport to their condo in Antelope Gardens, Rita and Julie enjoyed an abbreviated view of Cactus Junction and noted the sudden switch in scenery from tree studded and rainy San Juan Island, where they spent the recent summer, to a land of dry sand and thorny cacti. They watched the view slide by along either side of the blacktop road lying like a tightly stretched black ribbon across scrubby undeveloped desert. Forty-five minutes after leaving the airport, Rita eased her leased Buick into their assigned carport. Thankful for Rita's foresight, they were booked into a ground floor unit, making their transfer of luggage easier for women of their ascending age.
They spent the following day, Friday, and until noon Saturday shopping for groceries, cleaning products and basic household essentials needed to turn a collection of rooms into a home.
Rising from an afternoon nap, Rita asked Julie, "What do you suppose there is to do around here on Saturday nights, other than hang out in a meat market bar?"
"Can't say right off hand," Julie answered standing up and treating herself to a full body stretch. "Come to think of it, I have a friend living here who may be able to steer us in the right direction. Her name is Nellie Bunmeyer. I may as well give her ring; she always knows where and if any action is gong down."
"It's worth a shot," confirmed Rita. "Provided the property manager has our phone hooked up."
"He must have, I've got a dial tone and I hear it ringing. Hello, Nellie you old Poop! How are you? This is Julie.
"Hello yourself! You old broad," replied Nellie in a loud voice. "When did you arrive in my beautiful windblown city?"
"We got here Thursday afternoon and have been burning hair ever since making this stucco and plaster monster livable."
"Since you used the pronoun 'we', I take it you're not travelin' alone. Male or female?" Nellie asked.
"If I had a man, I wouldn't be calling you so soon. Do you remember me talking about my old friend, Ball Cutting Rita, don't you?" Julie answered with a question.
"Can't commend you on the company you're keepin'. I expected you to have latched onto a vibrator replacement by now. Is Rita the gal you mentioned who gets her kicks by verbally castratin' our darlin' playmates?"
"Ya, she's the one. We sort of have a platonic shack job going on since neither of us has a fulltime man underfoot. Hey, we were wondering if you could recommend a good place to get a steak, a little booze and if the conditions are right, maybe get in a little tummy rubbing if the music is worthwhile."
"There's always the VFW. Most times the steaks are tender, the booze is cheap, they play shit-kickin' music and the men try to recycle themselves by poppin' Viagra. Nellie offered.
"The VFW! Will they let us in? Neither of us ever fought in a foreign war."
"Never sweat the small stuff. I've got a card and I'll meet you there and get you signed in at about six-fifteen plus or minus a few minutes."
"Great! Around six-fifteen, provided I can get Rita in gear we'll see you there. Oh! By the way how do we find this temple of entertainment?
"Sort of depends on where you're camped?"
"We have a condo in Antelope Gardens."
'O.K., get back on Cactus Trail, turn right, go about five miles until you come to a signal light, go two blocks and it's on your right. You'll see the sign. Glad you decided on C.J. for the winter. It'll be great to see you again, Julie."
"We're glad to be here, Nellie. Bye, see you." Replacing the phone Julie turned to Rita. "What do you think? Tonight is steak night and live music."
"I'd say it's a vast improvement on television Hee Haw."
The time passed with renewed energy as the condo came alive with activity. The women showered, added their makeup, decided on clothes to wear and dressed. It was almost six o'clock when Rita and Julie closed the condo front door and started walking toward the carport.
Fifteen minutes later their car was parked and they were entering the VFW Post. Without membership cards they were forced to wait in line while members ahead of them passed though and craned their necks in search of Nellie. It was while Rita and Julie were waiting that Buck came to a sudden mid-stride halt to savor an x-ray view of Rita's profile as she stood in the lighted doorway.
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