Jim Meirose

In Marty Time

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The late afternoon sun shone dimly through the barroom windows.  

 

Oh—hey listen, she said idly, holding her beer. What are your plans for today?

 

I’ll be going home. Marty is taking over from me at five.

 

Marty? I don’t think I’ve ever met Marty.

 

Oh! He’s quite a guy. Single too. You’d like him. You ought to stay long enough to meet Marty. You ought to stay until five. It’s four already.  He drives a Mercedes convertible—a flashy sporty red one.

 

That sounds cute—

 

It is—Marty’s got a plane too.

 

God—a Mercedes, a plane—how’s he do it on this salary?

 

Oh this is just a side job for Marty. He’s got several businesses—he rakes in the dough. He just works as a bartender to decompress.

 

Is he married?

 

Nope. Single. You should meet him. I’ve seen him with women—he pours on the charm—he really knows how to treat a woman—money is no object.  I could see him going for you. Hang around until five. I’ll introduce you. It’s four thirty now.  Hey--maybe Marty will cook a dinner for you. He’s done that for other ladies he’s met here. He’s had them over, had some wine, a good dinner—

 

And what else? she said, with one eyebrow raised.

 

Oh nothing else. Marty is a perfect gentleman. He would never impose himself on a lady.

 

Sounds like you’re pretty impressed with him yourself.

 

I am. He’s someone a man can look up to. A good example. You should see how they’ll flock in here after he takes over—everybody will try and be near Marty—he’s got that—that charisma. And as a bartender, he’s superb—he knows every drink there is. Nobody’s stumped him yet. Wait until you meet him you’ll see—try and stump him.

 

I don’t usually go for exotic drinks—

 

Oh, but here’s something else—he’ll talk to you a little bit, size up your personality, then make you a special drink mixed just for you. He does that for all the ladies. Those are usually on the house. But look—it’s eight to five—he will be here any time now. Oh—and you know what else?

 

No. What?

 

He’s a great dancer. He’s won several dancing competitions.  You ought to get to know him and get him to take you out dancing—why, I’ve heard that out at the Willows, when he goes there dancing, the people just gather around in a big circle and watch him and his partner dance, that’s how good he is. He’s like a Fred Astaire—hey look—it’s four to five. He will be here any time now. Be ready though. Sometimes he comes in a  little bit early. Likes to freshen up in the men’s room before he starts his shift—he always looks fresh pressed and sharp, hair perfect—and you ought to see his posture—it’s better than a Marine’s. He carries himself like a king.

 

Wow—you really think a lot of him don’t you—

 

I can’t help it but go on and on about Marty—hey—it’s two minutes to five.  That door might open any second—

 

What kind of cologne does he wear? That’s about the only thing you haven’t told me—

 

It’s a minute to five. Watch the door.

 

My God. You—

 

It’s thirty seconds to five. Look—Marty’s always on time, on the dot.

 

Really—

 

It’s fifteen seconds to five.

 

I—

 

It’s eight seconds to five—

 

She drank from her beer.

 

It’s four seconds—

 

Two—

 

One—

 

It’s half a second to five.

 

It’s a quarter of a second to five—

 

An eighth—

 

A sixteenth—

 

She sat open-mouthed.

 

A thirty secondth.

 

A sixty fourth—

 

A one hundred twenty eighth—

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A two hundred fifty sixth—

 

And they sat frozen waiting forever in the dim lit late afternoon bar for Marty, because the time turned out to be always half of a half of a half of a half of the time until five.  They waited and they waited and five o’clock never came—and the closer it got to five o’clock the less time there was to speak, to think, to act, about Marty.  The less time there was for their hearts to pump and their blood to flow. So they ceased to exist in normal time. They froze. They shrank to nothing—trapped in Marty time.

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Jim Meirose's short work has appeared in numerous venues. His novels include "Sunday Dinner with Father Dwyer" (Optional Books), "Understanding Franklin Thompson"(JEF), "Le Overgivers au Club de la Résurrection" (Mannequin Haus), and "No and Maybe - Maybe and No" (Pski's Porch). Info: www.jimmeirose.com @jwmeirose

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