Slingshot

Struggling to egress the taxi, Joe cursed at the fact that his right arm was in a sling. Having recently survived a horrific road traffic accident, he was well aware that Lady Luck had smiled upon him: his car was a total wreck (having flipped over twice) but he escaped with only a minor concussion, a fissured shoulder and a torn muscle. But being human, he still cursed his plight.

Finally out of the taxi, Joe made his way to a jaunt his fraternal twin brother, John, was at. Spotting John with some friends at the far corner of the jaunt, Joe ambled across toward them and sat down. After the cursory introductions to the strangers at the table, Joe patiently answered all questions about the confluence of events leading to his arm being in a sling. Then he ordered a double vodka and got down to numbing his pain. Since the accident, Joe had learnt that taking his codeine painkillers with vodka was extremely efficacious in delivering him from reality. Popping twin tablets into his mouth, Joe consumed the twins and the double in a single gulp. Joe placed the now empty glass on the table and looked around. It was then that he caught Jane looking at him in bemusement.

Jane had spotted him the moment he walked in. The sling didn’t help but neither did Joe’s outlandish attire. But it was the huge soft toy Joe held in his good hand that had caught Jane’s eye. (Joe had just arrived from a pity party his friends had thrown him.) The sight of a tall, mean looking man walking with a cuddly toy fit for a prepubescent schoolgirl was incongruous enough for the blind to take notice. But there was something about his eyes that attracted Jane to him immediately. Joe had large, beautiful eyes that resonated an intensity lost on most of his generation.

Stroking the filter of her cigarette with her thumb, Jane smiled at Joe. Joe smiled back and made a face. He was on enough codeine to be excused for simply being conscious. Jane touched the empty chair between them (Joe had purposefully not sat beside Jane, choosing instead to sit beside his fraternal twin) and asked him to keep her company. Joe smiled, and obliged. It was obvious where this was going to go.

Offering Joe some of her wine, Jane stared intently at Joe. Joe looked at her whilst sipping her wine and couldn’t help thinking that though he had sold his motorcycle years ago; he was up for some riding that night. John stood up abruptly, breaking the Joe-Jane gaze. Looking down at his fraternal twin, he pointed at Janice then raised his chin to the door. Joe smiled. That gesture was code for “I’ll be back in 15 minutes”. It looked like it was riding season. Joe nodded in response and watched John and Janice head out the door after forgetting that moments ago they had announced the need for the washroom.

Alone once again, Joe and Jane re-established their gaze. Moving her hand toward Joe’s lap, Jane touched his knee gently with her fingertips. Joe placed his hand on hers and they moved in for a kiss. Many kisses and two cigarettes later, John and Janice returned. Everyone bottomed out their glasses and parted ways. In pairs.

That Jane and Joe set the roof on fire is an understatement. Promising to meet the next day over drinks, Joe left for home exhausted but exuberant. He was meant to meet Jane in less than ten hours. The next day, Joe and John were out getting an early start on their preferred poison. Jane arrived one and a half bottles later. Without Janice. The three proceeded to adjourn to the next venue after bleeding dry the contents of the remaining bottle.

The next venue was perfect. Euro trance pulsating from the amplified speakers, the trio ordered enough to releave a drought plagued village. Publicly displaying affection to Joe, there was not a doubt in anyone’s mind that Jane and Joe were deeply in lust. John was a little too inebriated to care about anything but his drink and soon enough, he announced the need for the washroom. Joe flipped him the finger and laughed. Jane whispered in Joe’s ear that she too needed to use the washroom. Nibbling on his ear lobe, she paused before exhaling an ‘I love you’ into his ear. She planted an amorous kiss on his lips and staggered in the direction of the washroom.

Joe looked around. The music was good. The drinks were better. And now that he was alone, he realised that the crowd around him offered amazing eye candy. Already high on codeine, the alcohol did not help his psychomotor coordination. Trying to take the sip, Joe thought his lips were upon the glass’ rim but stood corrected when he felt his entire shirt soaking wet. He looked down at his shirt. He laughed. This was fun! He directed the bar maid to clean up the inadvertent flooding of the table and to refill his glass. He walked to the washroom.

Turning gingerly (his shoulder was fissured, remember?) into the alley that led to the washroom, he stood before him and was greeted with a sight to behold: Jane and John were making out like crazed weasels. First their lips were locked. Then she was nibbling at his chin. First on the right; then on the left; then she opened her eyes to reposition her mouth on John’s face. And saw Joe standing not three feet from them. She gasped, tugged at John’s shirt and gasped again. Joe saw John turning toward him; John turned and saw Joe standing there.

Joe smiled. Jane was puzzled at his reaction: she was fully expecting to be slapped (just not too hard or she might have liked it) and she was prepared to fully accept it. Joe took a step forward and Jane rushed to him, struggling to find words that would be suitable enough for such a situation. Joe placed his finger on her lips. Dumbstruck, Jane remained still, like a puppet on a string.

Joe moved his lips:

“No need to explain. Your insurance policy provides for any rider. I enjoyed my ride, now let him.”

Joe moved his legs; he had a shirt to rinse off.