Experiment Complete!

A few weeks ago I wrote about doing an experiment, a social networking tandem story. Well, it has been completed and it actually turned out even better than I had hoped. I will print it here in its entiriety but first I want to thank all the participants - Jen, Pam, Mary, Dan, Dylan, Kevin, Steve, EJ - all of you contributed mightily to the task. I have some plans, however vague to write a few things about the story but that is for another time. Anyway enjoy the story.

HERE IT IS:

They planned to meet at the mall Friday night, like they did almost every Friday night. He arrived early (she hated when he was late), after parking down by the food court because he knew that’s where they would end up at closing time. He dodged the cold rain as he sprinted to the sliding glass doors, stepping quickly inside. He wiped his feet on the industrial rubber mat because he didn’t want a repeat of the “slip-n-slide” he did in front of all her friends a couple of years ago. A quick glance showed him the mall was less crowded than usual but he still had a ways to go to meet up with her. As he began walking to the opposite end of the mall, he did a double take as a couple slowly passed him going in the opposite direction. He had seen them approaching, arm and arm, but was rendered speechless when he recognized who she was. He stood there for a moment collecting his thoughts and then suddenly realized he was late again. He took off in a sprint, to meet her, knowing she was going to be upset because she had to wait for him. Little did he suspect then that this was not going to be their usual Friday night.

I arrived with only minutes to spare and I knew by the look in her eye she was not happy with my lateness. We exchanged kisses and she informed me she had already purchased tickets for the only flick I really did not want to see, but I guess that’s the price for being late. Throughout the entire movie I could not get my mind off of what I saw when I entered the mall. How could this be? What was she thinking? I never thought she would be capable of this! We knew each other for the past 10 years, met one another through an acquaintance. She was very spirited, good natured and never had a bad word for anyone. That's why what I saw must be some misunderstanding. After the movie we went to our favorite bar and grille for drinks and a bite to eat. On our way to the car I saw them drive by, we exchanged a quick glance. I was very disturbed by her expression. What is going on?

I’ve never seen a look like that on her face or anyone else’s for that matter. What could possibly make someone look at you with that much pleading terror in their eyes and not be screaming and running in the other direction from the thing that frightened her? The guy she was with didn’t even look all that frightening, from the two brief looks that I got. My girlfriend, Jade, asked me anxiously what was wrong, why I seemed so preoccupied. I realized I had zoned out completely while driving and we were now going easily 15 miles over the speed limit, and as I eased my foot of the gas I smiled, trying not to worry her. “It’s nothing” I said, “Just saw an old friend in the mall and wondered what she’s been up to. Haven’t talked to her in a long while."

"Her??" Jade's voice was so cold it made me want to turn off the air conditioning, though it wasn't on. "How good a friend are we talking about? The kind that makes you forget where you're going and how fast you're getting there?" "It's not like that," I replied. "Just a friend." No more words were exchanged for what felt like an eternity. We pulled up to the bar shortly after, and there in the parking lot was the car I had seen my friend leaving the mall in. 'Maybe she was just stuck in a bad blind date,' I thought. I know I'd been in similar situations myself, and probably wore a similar expression. I locked the car and as we crossed the parking lot, a mist colder than Jade's tone enveloped me. I felt a growing sense of foreboding, like I should be anywhere but here. Like my journey into the Twilight Zone had only begun at the mall. I opened the door and we went inside.

Our senses were assaulted, by the smoke filled room as well as the twang of the horrendous country music blasting from the jukebox in the corner. I was especially dumbfounded when I got a good look, despite the dark saloon, and confirmed my suspicions about who my old friend was with. Johnny Raggs, the notorious gangster and casino rat! My last dealings with him hadn't gone well to say the least.

Raggs had been out for a few months, (or was it a year, already??), I thought about how much I didn't want to see him, how much better the world was with him locked up, and how Jade should never be subjected to such dark uncertainty and bad country music. It suddenly occurred to me how badly I needed a drink. Jade stepped off to the powder room and I pushed my way up to the bar and ordered a round. The Jack went down nice and smooth, and after a couple good sips of warm Bud I took a better look at my old friend. Johnny had his back to me but I could spot that bad suit a mile away.

Taylor Swift pushes words about Romeo toward me from the jukebox through the smoke and the smell and past the scary broad back of Johnny Raggs. Slow wobbling fans above pressed the ceiling and the smoke down into the scene failing to provide any cover or relief. Jade would return soon. "Just a friend" I'd lied. Who needs that grief? No fan of confrontation I still felt the need to offer a way out ... if Raggs was terrorizing a woman I'd once cared about. I felt no loyalty to him. What, you say? Why would you? There's a man code. A man code for the straight up guys you go bowling with. But this was a thug, plain and simple. No dude he. I stood behind his back and did my best to gesture to her. "Are you OK?" I pointed to her through the fog. I gave the ok sign through the smoke. My eyes pleaded - "Please understand". Staring at me from behind the bar, a cute girl in a tight t-shirt. Hoping for any kind of an impromptu wing man, a bud, a dude to take my back if Raggs turns around. That's when it occurs to me he's wearing a jacket. A sport coat on hot night in a warm bar. He's carrying. Was that a lump under his elbow? I don't need this ... but what if she's in trouble? All these thoughts through my mind in a half second while I hunch my shoulders as if to ask the question. Y'ok? Jade appears, scanning our table and I'm not there. I look back at this one time most important person to me. Bright eyes smile and she jumps up shouting "Oh hi there!"

I'm not sure who reacted more poorly, Jade, or Raggs. As she walked to the bar I turned to greet her. As we hugged I saw Jade and Raggs staring back at us, as if the world was coming to an end. I knew instantly that I would be hearing about this on the way home. It certainly didn't help that she put her hand on my chest. But then I realized what she had done. Something had slid into my pocket, a note, a card, something. Raggs walked briskly towards us and grabbed her by the arm. "Let's go, this place is trashy" He told her, practically dragging her to the door. She glanced over her shoulder as the left the bar, looking down to my chest pocket, then back up as if to ensure that I had gotten the message. I had. Jade stood in silence until I approached her. "How about another drink?" I asked. "Not really in a drinking mood, anymore. Let's just go." She replied. I excused myself to the bathroom, I needed to check the note before I got in the car. I pushed open the door and checked my pocket. It was a business card in fact. I took out my cell phone and added her number to my phone book. I didn't want Jade to find the card in my pocket and get even madder then she already was. I tossed the card into the trash can as I was walking out. It turned over in the air, and landed upside down on the top of the pile of paper towels. One word was written on the back of the card. "Help."

The single word stared up at me in supplication. I knew I had to get her away from Raggs, but how? Out in the parking lot, they headed for his gaudy purple Cadillac. It was then I noticed that Raggs was traveling with two goons, as well as a driver behind the wheel of the Caddy. One of the Neanderthals stepped between me and Raggs as I approached. "You wanna head back inside, my man," he grumbled. "Oh, in just a minute," I replied. "As soon as I give my friend this note." When I reached for my inside coat pocket, the goon thought I was going for a heater, and he yanked out a scary looking pistol. "Back off, assh*le!" I have no idea where the courage came from, but when I saw the gun, I lashed out with my right foot and connected squarely with the thug's wrist. The discharge was the single loudest thing I have ever heard. Raggs hit the pavement and tried to roll under the Caddy.! Run!" I screamed.

Suddenly, everything was in slow motion. Cops jumping out from behind parked cars, tires squealing in the parking lot, flashes of light as guns were fired, screams both near and far. Raggs’ other henchman tried to get out from the back of the Caddie but was intercepted by the police. My friend, a mixed look of terror and relief on her face, hugged the ground. Visibly shaken, she was going to need some help to stand without toppling over. I glanced over my shoulder to see Jade approaching me, holding her cell phone in her hand. It was then I realized that she had called the cops while she was in the powder room. She knew something was up even if she didn’t understand my concern for my old friend. Jade had seen the lump under his elbow and knew he had a gun. She recognized Raggs from his picture in the newspaper and knew he was evading the police. Call it a sixth sense if you wish, intuition perhaps, but she also knew my friend was in trouble and figured out a way to end this situation. One anonymous tip to police about a convict in a bar with a gun and they all came running. Happy ending all around. This was not a usual Friday night and I did have some explaining to do about my friend, but I am feeling pretty lucky right about now. Things had turned out well.



Now, we need a name for it. Any suggestions?