I dropped the last of my American Spirit into the cigarette stand right before I stepped into the Palace. I saw Paris's car parked outside so I thought I would stop in to see if she was having dinner with one of her sheep. She was sitting alone. Her white overcoat was right next to her. She was wearing a white turtleneck, jeans, and her white Eskimo boots. Her hair was up.
I usually avoided the Palace because it was right next to my former employer. I didn't think there would be an issue because it was after seven and I knew they were closed.
I ordered a plain chicken breast and a diet coke to be delivered to the table.
"May I offer you a drink," she said as I slid into the seat across from her. "Possibly a COCK-tail?!?" She exploded in laughter.
I just hung my head and shook it. "I see you talked to Linda."
"Oh yes, yes I did! Now that's funny. That's really funny. You were worried about being judged on Hotornot? Ha! Ha! Ha!" She continued to laugh out loud.
"That's what I love about you Paris, you are always a sympathetic ear." I rested my head in my hands.
"Stupid bastard. See, you should have let me take the pictures."
"The last time I saw you was at Kiki's house. Do you have a camera with you now? I know I don't. Our schedules never seem to click."
"You and your goddamn particulars. Why did you even do it in the first place?" She asked sipping on her beer.
"Did you order yet?" I asked her trying to change the subject.
"Of course I did. What do you want?"
"I have a chicken breast and a diet coke coming."
"You're still eating well. And you've kept the weight off, good boy."
"I have to stay in shape if I want the plan to come together." I said twisting from side to side.
"What plan is that? The online dating plan?" She snickered.
"No, no, no. That's more of an experiment to see if I've become a viable property. If I happen to hook up in the process then so be it. I actually put an add up on Yahoo just to see if I get any legitimate hits. Living around here sucks. Every personal I look at wants doughy white guys. That's not me."
"What do you mean?" She said feigning shock. "You're not white?!?"
"Kiss my ass." I said as the arrived with our food.
"So what's this big plan?" She asked digging into her Greek salad.
"I'm expanding on the American Dream. I've had the 'good' corporate job - that I hated, I own a European car, I've had some money in the bank, not so much anymore but I've had it. I've called my bosses morons, told them they can go stick that 'good' corporate job in their ass, and now I spend my days doing what I love. Yes, I'm in debt but who isn't?"
The light from the ceiling caught her eyes just right. For a second I was lost in their reflection. They glimmered like finely crafted Waterford Crystal.
"And what do you have to show for all of this?" She asked looking through the finely crafted crystal.
"More quality time with you, pretty girl!" I smiled like a fifteen year old school girl telling her friends she had been asked to the senior prom.
"Asshole."
"Seriously, it's the American Dream 2.0, kid. I'm trying to live on my own terms."
"Here's a toast," she said raising her beer into the light. "To the American Dream 2.0"
"Here, here!"
"Is that diet coke going to be strong enough? Might I suggest, perhaps, a COCK-tail?!?"
"Fuck you." I said while she laughed.
That Beautiful Black Man
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