2

I worked at a bar called Illuminate. It was in the centre of the nightlife district. There was another bar up the street about two blocks off but it was nowhere as busy as Illuminate. The streets were always bustling with life, be it cars, people and a sight that was becoming a bigger problem for us, police. Lucky for us, there was a parking lot behind the building where most of our regulars stopped, and a side street that had a gate at the end, marked “Private Property”. On the other side was a dimly lit alley, patrolled by the bouncer that stood guard in the darkness.   

Illuminate used to be an old brewery and a lot of the old architecture was still visible, including the raw brick wall, but the owner had made good use of it, like the wrought iron stairs that lead to the upper VIP loft. It consisted of a couple of booths of comfortable sofas around a dining table sized coffee table.

Contrary to its name, the bar was actually really dark. All the furniture was in shades of charcoal or black, the tables in the lounge areas at the back of the building were white. When the designers had planned the interior their intention was to use black lights but it really didn’t work very well with the dark furniture.

Instead the designers chose blood red LED lights.

It just gave enough light but not in such a way that someone could be recognised from the other end of the room. I believe that the anonymity is really the reason that makes the bar so popular.

When the bar was sold to the current owners the idea of the black lights resurfaced.  Neon colours were added on the couches and the counter edges and in between the booths were neon lines. The red lights stayed on until the band arrived. The red lights were then turned off and the black lights were turned on, giving the room a club like feel.

My shift was from five pm until ten pm. I was one of two bar ladies that worked behind the counter. The counter itself was really long but it gave the patrons that sat at the bar enough room around them. I work the right side while Elaine took the left half of the counter. The enormous custom built fridges were at the end of the mirrored shelves containing all the hard liquor. A bar fridge with a see-through door stood on the counter, it had about twenty different kinds of spirits that we used to pour shots.

We both wore the black long sleeved button up shirts supplied by our employer. I always wore a black t-shirt underneath that sported a legendary band. Our employer really wasn’t bothered by the bottoms as long as it was trousers. I liked wearing my jeans and flat soled black sneakers. It worked wonders on and off stage. My short hair was gelled up in a Mohawk tonight. It was relatively busy for a Thursday night but the patrons were generous and the tip jars were filling up nicely.

At ten thirty pm the band made their appearance at the bar. Claude Smith, the rhythm guitarist leaned over the bar and smacked my hand.

“Give us a round there August before we go up.” He said with a grin.

“Sure thing bro.” I said to him and turned to get the five beers from the fridge.

I grinned as the rest of the band filtered through the crowd. Tom Harrison, the drummer and Jamie Shuster, the keyboard player, was the next two to lean over and slap my palm. I popped the tops off the bottle and handed them over.

“Where’s Juan?” I asked them while I scanned the crowd for our bass guitarist.

“Over there at the door. He ran into a girl. Apparently she was one of his long lists of one- nighters.” Claude replied with a feral grin.

“Most of the girls in here had been one-nighters for the band at some point or the other.” I commented drily.

“Tonight’s not going to be any different.” Claude looked over to where Juan was still with the girl, but his posture had changed from defensive to flirting.

I stepped away from them to fill up another girl’s cocktail glass before I went to the back room where my boss, Jeremy, sat with the girl that was going to take my place as soon as I step out towards the stage.

“Diane.” I greeted her and turned to look at the boss, “They’re here boss.” I said with a grin.

He mirrored my grin and reached for the circuit breaker behind him. The lights flashed and a roar filled the bar when the neon stripes appeared everywhere.

“Don’t crack the counter again.” Diane called when I turned to leave.

I turned and smiled mischievously at her.

“Never!” I said innocently and rolled up my sleeves.

I took the first sip of the beer when I walked on stage. I grabbed the microphone stand, tapped it and said

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Old School Night. Tonight, you will hear the songs you have forgotten or the songs you parents used to listen to. Sit back, have a beer or a shot and enjoy.”

The bar was packed and the night was getting on. I was standing on the bar counter with a microphone while the band played.  I was really getting into it with Dion’s The Wanderer. I loved the slow tune but yet the sass and tease that was all in the song and lyrics.

The patrons cheered and clapped as the song came to an end. Someone bought a round of tequila and brought it to the stage. I downed mine just in time to sing the first line of Bob Segar’s Old Time Rock and Roll.

I grinned at my band when I saw a group of gorgeous women walk onto the dance floor. Tom grinned at me while the Claude just shook his head at me. I jumped off the bar counter and made my way dancing to the group, who by now, was halted as the rest of the bar joined my rhythm and danced around me. I put out a hand and pulled one of the women in to dance with me.

She blushed but then out feet jumped in unison. When the song finally ended I pecked her on the cheek when Tom started the first bars of the next song. I made a dash to the stage, put the microphone on the stand and grabbed my guitar.

We took a break around midnight. I sat down at the counter and started talking to the blonde girl that I had been dancing with earlier.

“So what’s your name?” I asked her after I ordered a beer and two tequilas.

“Jennifer.” She told me and smiled sweetly.                       

“That’s a beautiful name Honey.” I replied quickly and handed her the shot glass.

“Ah this is poison!” she complained after she downed the liquid.

I grinned at her and bit into the lemon slice.

“The taste goes away after a while.” I told her and very gently put a hand on her knee.

“Really?” she asked me and licked her lips.

“Promise.” I replied, looking into her eyes.

She bit her lower lip and suggested seductively

“Maybe we should have another one then?”

I grinned at her and raised my hand to the bar lady.

Very soon Jennifer and I were outside the bar, leaning against her car, and making out as if there was no tomorrow. But her annoying phone rang again.

“Too bad I can’t take you home with me.” She purred “My sister wouldn’t like that at all.”

“I’ll be really quiet.” I told her and kissed her neck.

Her head dropped back and her hands started to travel up my back.

“I might not be.” She replied and pushed me away slightly. “But you know what? If we can find a secluded spot…” she let the words hang around me.

“You bet your sweet behind I can find us a nice spot.” I replied and took her hand, leading her into the alley next to the bar, giving the invisible Donald a tiny nod when I stepped into the alley.

I returned alone to the bar half an hour later. I had done what I needed to do and had even seen her drive away. I sat at one end of the bar and ordered a beer, lighting a cigarette while I waited.

Claude took the empty chair next to me and took a cigarette from my pack.

“She ride okay?” he asked conversationally.

“Oh yeah.” I replied and flashed him a feral grin.

“Did she see the tattoo?” he asked softly.

“No. but she sure has a nice tribal butterfly above her tailbone.” I replied.

We raised our beer bottles and clinked to my victory. We chatted for a while until Tom interrupted, throwing his arms over our shoulders when he came up from behind.

“You going to do a couple of unplugged songs?” he asked in a low tone.

“Nah mate! Where’d you get that idea from?”

He leaned back and pointed towards the right.

“See them girls there? They have been asking me to ask you. Apparently they like your moves.” He replied.

“Everybody likes her moves.” Claude muttered and shook off our friend’s arm.

“Except every chick in here thinks she’s a dude.” He replied.

“Not now Tom. I’m exhausted.” I replied and tossed his arm off.

“I’ve got just the thing for that August. Don’t you worry about that. So I help you with that, you help me score tonight yeah?” he whispered softly into my ear.

“You seriously going to bribe me dude?” I asked him but turned around, very much interested in what he had to say.

“Don’t think of it as a bribe August. Think of it as helping a friend.” He replied quickly.

I stood up quickly.

“You have a deal mate.” I replied.

We went outside to the band’s van where the other guys were already getting cutting lines in a mirror.

“Dude, that is wicked!” I said wide eyed to Juan when I looked at the line he was pointing at.

“Grow some balls August. You’ve done more than that one before.” Tom chuckled.

“Nah ah! Give me that damn card.” I argued vehemently and grabbed Juan’s credit card.

I split the extra thick line of white powder first into halves, then halved them again.

“You are wasting some awesome product. I’d rather not OD mate.” I replied before I lowered my nose into the rolled up bill and inhaled.

“What’s the worst that could happen?” Tom argued and laughed.

“I’d never get some sleep.” I replied and passed the mirror to Claude.

“We can all sleep on Sunday.” Juan, the bassist told me with a wicked grin.

“If we don’t break the house down on Saturday night.”  Claude, the rhythm guitar told him and took his line.

I watched the mirror go back into its jewellery box and placed in a secure place under the driver’s seat.

“So, when we go back in, what’s the plan?” I asked them while we closed up.

“Couple of AC/DC riffs, starting with Hells Bells, then we do a quick medley with Queen, Fat Bottomed girl, Joan Jett, I Love Rock and Roll , Nirvana’s Smells like Teen Spirit, then we rock out with Mustang Sally, Billy Joel, Only the Good die Young and Piano man.” Juan replied.

“Don’t forget my serenade.” Tom pointed at me.

“What you going to do if I don’t do it?” I asked him stubbornly but the music was already in my head.

“Thanks August.” He said to me and slapped my back.

We walked back in through the back door and into the bar. The jukebox was playing but the second we got on stage it was cut off.

“What’s her name?” I asked Tom in a whisper.

He gave me a frightened look and replied

“I don’t know. But you know how to serenade a woman don’t you?”

I threw him a confused look but nodded and said

“Okay. We’ll do Olly Murs, Dance with me Tonight.”

“Atta boy August.” Tom cheered me on just before I started the first ACDC riff.