Angel Eyes

“Will you wrap everything up if I take off now? Gotta meet Alice in half an hour, we’re catching the late night show”. Dannie was yawning, and the dark rings around his eyes were showing. “Sure thing, but how’re you gonna stay awake if you’re already so wiped out?” Therese smirked at her friend knowingly. “I bet Alice’s less than thrilled to have you fall asleep over her…”

The young man pulled himself together and cast a sly glance at Therese. “Give a guy a break, for crying out loud! I’ll be a reborn Romeo once I get outta here.” Dannie grabbed his jacket and started towards the back door. After a couple of steps he stopped and turned to Therese. “You know it wouldn’t hurt you to meet other people as well…” He ducked just in time to miss the towel Therese flung at him behind the bar counter. “Okay, okay – I’m going… don’t forget to make tonight’s deposit.” “When have I ever!?” Therese laughed as Dannie disappeared out of sight shrugging his broad shoulders.

The bar room was somewhat quiet with only a couple of tables occupied. There was the usual crowd – students drinking heavily with no qualms about tomorrow – enjoying the lazy atmosphere of the downtown jazz club on a week night. The larger back room reserved for Friday and Saturday gigs was closed as always. Therese loved these shifts more than the busy weekend ones. They gave her the opportunity to fall deep in her own thoughts while listening to old standards playing on the background. Dannie liked to tease her about them preferring Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker himself. It was all good natured, though. Dannie’s a softie, after all, occurred to her suddenly. Nevertheless she was now happy to have the bar all to herself for she was feeling unusually mellow putting on Blossom Dearie whose soft voice soon filled the smoky space with its own inimitable, subtle fragrance:

Up Madison, down Park, every day and often after dark

Pretending that we’ll meet

Each time I turn a corner, I walk a little faster

Pretending life is sweet

‘Cause love’s around the corner, I walk a little faster…

Absent-mindedly she went about drying shot glasses, not really thinking of anything in particular.

Can’t begin to see my future shine as yet

No sign as yet, you’re mine as yet

Rushing toward a face I can’t define as yet

Keep bumping into walls taking lots of falls

What a queer, lovely voice, she thought to herself. Like a lonely cloud dispersing up above, spreading its airy feels over the quiet, solemn sky.

But even though I meet at each and every corner

With nothing but disaster

I set my chin a little higher, hope a little longer

Build a little stronger castle in the air

And thinking you’ll be there, I walk a little faster…

She let out an inaudible sigh and focused her eyes on her clientele. Soon she’d have to go and ask the guys in the back table to escort their very inebriated friend home. She couldn’t have him pass out on the spot.

The last call came and went. Therese couldn’t help but smile at the last ones leaving, stumbling on the bar tables on their way out. One guy who introduced himself as Tommy made a point of apologizing for his friends’ clumsiness promising to “make it up to the lovely lady behind the counter”. He was every bit of a gentleman despite his somewhat intoxicated slurring. “Yeah, yeah” she replied ushering them out kindly yet determinedly. It was nothing she hadn’t heard thousands of times before, but as long as it was good-natured, she was alright with it. Richard, her on and off boyfriend, hardly agreed. He thought it unfitting for her to work late nights all by herself. “Who knows what kind of weirdos turn up, it’s not safe, that’s all I’m sayin’.” But it wasn’t, and Therese was irritated by his apparent jealousy masking as concern for her well-being.

She had already locked the front door when she heard someone knocking on it hurriedly. Therese felt uncomfortable, and thought about ignoring it altogether when she heard a woman’s voice. “Hello, anyone in there..?” She returned to the door and took a peak through the peephole. A dark haired woman grinned at her mischievously.

“Are you gonna let me in or what? I know it’s late but I need to get a hold of the proprietor first thing tomorrow morning.” Therese turned the key and proceeded to unlatch the door. Before she knew it the brunette made her way to the warmth of the abandoned bar. She was shivering under her heavy coat, seemingly bothered by the cold night air.

“Well, who does one have to sleep here with to get a stiff drink?” The woman took away her scarf releasing a flood of auburn hair. She smiled good-naturedly at Therese who was shifting her weight from one foot to another. “Name’s Gerhard, Abigail Gerhard – but my friends call me Abby.” She extended her hand to Therese. “Therese Belivet. Nice to meet you.” Abby sat down on one of the bar stools and sighed of sheer contentment. “Oh, pleasure’s all mine. I thought I wouldn’t make it in time.” Well, you didn’t, Therese thought somewhat begrudgingly and longed for the privacy of her warm, comfy bed.

“Are you any good? Mixing cocktails, I mean?” Abby took a puff of her cigarette and watched Therese as she moved behind the counter. Something about Therese seemed to amuse her a great deal.

“No complaints so far.” Therese wasn’t going to stand there blushing like a school girl. She knew her business. “Name your poison.” Abby rolled her eyes appreciatively. “I’ll have an Old-Fashioned, please.” Therese muddled the sugar with bitters and water rotating the glass to line it with the grainy sweetness. She poured the rye in and pushed the glass towards the unexpected latecomer.

“Will you now tell me your business? It’s getting late and I’m really not supposed to linger here any longer.” She knew she sounded impatient. The woman took a sip of her drink and pulled out a business card. Her whole demeanor changed as if the mere handing of the card had transformed her into something completely different.

“My apologies for keeping you here at this hour,” her voice sounded very professional, “but my previous attempts to get a hold of the owner of this establishment have been somewhat frustrating. You know, your website’s a mess as far as the contact information is concerned.”

Don’t I know it. Therese had repeatedly pointed it out to Dannie who didn’t seem to care one way or the other. “Word of mouth, you know. I’m an old school kinda guy!” he explained his obvious shortcomings as a web master.

“Any way, I have a client who is thinking about making a comeback and would like to try out some new material in front of an audience. I hear you have a lively crowd here on your club nights, so I was thinking maybe this could be a suitable venue for her.” While listening to the woman Therese took a quick look at the card: Abigail Gerhard, Kiss of Fire Talent Agency.

“Well, I’m not the owner but I’ll be happy to pass along any message to him.” Therese couldn’t help but smile at the engraved card and it didn’t go unnoticed. The familiar grin had returned to Abby’s face.

“She’s not a newcomer. Like I said this could be her comeback. As a matter of fact, I’m sure of it. Maybe you’ve heard of her? I have some material with me which might be of interest to you and your boss.” Abby reached down to her hand bag and lifted out a CD. “Although you are such a young nymph you may have missed her previous heyday…” She winked at Therese who felt her cheeks redden all of a sudden.

“You were right, you do mix a mean cocktail. I’ll look forward to sampling more of those in the future. Toodle-loo!” Abby Gerhard made her exit as swiftly as she had come in leaving Therese dumbfounded with the CD in her hand.

She flipped the CD to look at its front side. There was no cover art, just the artist’s name written on the burned disc. Carolyn Ross. Therese lit a cigarette and put the disc on. A sultry, husky voice spread all over the room lighting up even the darkest corners with its irresistible charm:

I try to think that love's not around

But it's uncomfortably near

My old heart ain't gaining no ground

Because my angel eyes ain't here

Angel eyes, that old devil sent

They glow unbearably bright

Need I say that my love's misspent

Misspent with angel eyes tonight

So drink up all you people

Order anything you see

Have fun you happy people

The laughs and the jokes are on me

Pardon me but I got to run

The fact's uncommonly clear

Got to find who's now number one

And why my angel eyes ain't here

Oh, where is my angel eyes

Excuse me while I disappear

Angel eyes, angel eyes…