Quality Express hotel doesn’t exist anywhere (that I know of) except in my mind.
It Ain’t Me, Babe
It’s Friday night at the Quality Express. The lights in the bar are low. Candles flicker on tables. It’s more ambiance than you’d expect for a hotel that caters to business travelers.
I’m wearing a floor length evening gown in plum made by my seamstress (designer wannabe) best friend. The straps are encased in rhinestones that glitter in the soft stage light. I sing love songs, or at least I try.
The fact is that lonely travelers sometimes drink more than they should and their inner Adele or Streisand or Freddie Mercury rises to the surface. They think nothing of bounding, okay, stumbling to the stage as if it’s karaoke night. And I let them, because, let’s face it, I like to be entertained too, just in a different way.
At 10 pm on alternate nights, I sing “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” because basically I’m a sadist. Within minutes, there will be blubbering, or worse. Tonight, it’s worse.
A pretty blonde sashays to the stage. Tears glitter in her eyes. From her movements I’m willing to bet she’s not drunk.
“You tried,” she says.
I narrow my eyes at her but continue singing.
“You tried to steal my man.”
Huh. Should I bring out some Tammy Wynette or Loretta Lynn? A country cheating song?
A chubby brunette rushes forward. “That’s not her. It’s the Thursday night singer.”
I nod. “Yeah, that Thursday night singer’s bad news!”
Yep. Two weeks ago, I changed my schedule and my hair color. I was the Thursday night singer. I wonder which man was hers. Meh, doesn’t matter. I never steal for keeps. Men are like potato chips: you can’t have just one.
end
Sascha Darlington 4/19/2018
A mea culpa offered for going about a 100 words over. 🙁 (But hopefully it was worth it?)
Great! Didn’t see it coming. Sounds like you (singer) will be changing hair color a lot. 🙂
Yep. That ex-Thursday night singer seems to have a voracious appetite. Maybe she’ll buy wigs. 🙂
I couldn’t help the grin, almost chuckle actually. Awesome ending. Excellent story; love it. 😊
Thanks, Anne. Sometimes it’s fun to go with the unexpected. And where the unexpected comes from, I never know. (Maybe that’s why it’s unexpected? 🙂 )
Of all the gin joints in the world this two timed sob sister has to horn in on your act, put you on the defensive and of course make wish you had brought another wig to disguise the fact that you can not only sing but enjoy potato chips as well. 🙂
lol She may even have temporary dye in her make up bag. Gotta have those chips!