The Beginnings - Part 152: A COCKTAIL IN THE BACKROOM OF A LIQUOR STORE

"We were explosive.   Good sex is explosive.”
-as heard while watching THE BUBBLE,
An Israeli film from 2006

The Beginnings – Part 152: 
A COCKTAIL IN THE BACKROOM OF A LIQUOR STORE

December 2, 1983

Judy Albert, my co-worker, had her birthday today.   It was fun as it made our Section more festive than usual.   The work day went by rather quickly, too.

Nici Maurino had said that she may come by my place to see a flick on the VCR (Video Cassette Recorder).   Of course she pulled a no-show.   Why should I be surprised?   She did call and tell me about the fact that she was going to Pete’s (that girl with the kids).   Why do I think she’s just a ‘bull shitter’?

I called Leah.
Leah said, “I failed my State Board Cosmetology exam by four points!”
I felt bad for her.   She confessed to me that she’s only eighteen years old.   She’s NMT (Not My Type) anyway.   I’ve decided to give up on her (even though we did make a tentative date for tomorrow night).   I would rather go to that new place at the Oakland HILTON called Barley Corn’s.   They keep advertising it on KQAK radio and I know I’d enjoy the music there.  I can swoop on a regular, non-smoking kind of gal there.  I am certainly crossing my fingers for finding one without all of the issues anyway. 
Leah said, “I think I’m on the brink of a nervous breakdown.”
“I can relate…I had a minor break myself.”
I think she thought I was kidding.   We continued our talk about our other relationships and sexual crap that I didn’t really enjoy discussing.

Bill Helbush, the unusually charming and chummy one, called me.   He simply left a message.   I chose to call him the previous night at about 12:30PM, so that is the only reason he called (in my opinion).  

I started out by calling him back and innocently saying, “Hi, it’s Mike.”
“Oh…how are you?”
He stated his greeting in such a way that he wanted to STOP everything to talk to me.
“I’m good.  What’s new with you?”
“Well, I’m working until midnight tonight.”
“Where do you work?”
“Oh…just at some liquor store in Walnut Creek.”
I wasn’t impressed but I happily continued our conversation.
Bill said, “We should get-together for some Champagne.   I get it for free since I’m the head honcho there.”
“That sounds like an idea.”
“And we could walk the hill, look at the stars and just do some rappin’.”
I thought he was clever at using the charm and romance and I replied, “That sounds good.”

I think I am going to take him up on this spontaneous invitation.   Why not?   So here I go to Walnut Creek.  Am I really going to see Bill Helbush though?   This is all so questionable.

I located WALNUT CREEK LIQUORS and saw Bill (behind the counter) at work.   I surprised him because he didn’t expect me to come by.
Bill said, “I just thought you’d call.  You just showed up.”
He introduced me to Roger, one of his roommates.   He also showed me around the liquor store.   It wasn’t like viewing a museum.  That’s for sure.   As I began to know Bill better I detected that his parents owned the store.   I could be mistaken.  

Since I was a bit early for the Champagne in the hills outing he prepared me a mixed drink in the back room.   It was a very good Margarita.   I never thought I’d ever be having a cocktail in the back room of a liquor store.   Wonders never cease. 

Bill grabbed a few bottles of Champagne to take to his place.   I started to feel quite relaxed after just that one Margarita cocktail.  Bill is an easy one for conversation.   We talked more and got to know one another better.  
"I hope he doesn't think I'm going to drink all of those bottles of Champagne," I thought silently.
Bill said, “I used to train horses and lived in Hawaii for a while.”
I thought this was fascinating as I asked, “Horses?”
“Yes.   I’m going to school now and working.”

“What are you studying?”
“I’m trying to get a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics.”
I shared with him about my Bachelor degree in Business Administration with the focus on Marketing.  I felt at ease talking to him.  He started to look more desirable.  It could have been the Champagne.   Who knows?  He has jet black hair and clear skin.  I think he’s about twenty-eight or so.  I continued to feel relaxed with him.   I spent the night, sleeping with him on his lower bunk.   I did think it was odd that he had bunk beds.   We had a good time.  What will the morning bring?

Everyone’s saliva is different and distinctive, flavored by diet, whether or not they smoke, heredity, perhaps even mood.
-Diane Ackerman
A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SENSES