After finishing my second beer, in the smoke filled bar, it was time to move on, unless something good was happening. I held myself to a strict code, two beers and time to roll. I had the circuit down pat. It would eventually take me to the ocean were I would end up at the Sand Bar, a quiet local hangout were everyone was always welcome.
As I walked from the bar I observed two drunken jar heads blowing of steam with there fists. They were both doing a fairly good job of it . I walked out the door to my scooter, inserted the key, flipped on the gas and hit the button. The bike fired to life beneath me, bringing, as usual , a snappy smile to my face . On with the yellow-tint goggles and flat-black lid .
As I swung my leg over the black leather seat, the thought of Sue entered my mind. She is one sweet lady, but I can't figure her out .
Heading out of town I ran through the gears, listening to the motor, while pulling up to seventy five mph, then leveled it off, right there. Everything sounded fine, the stars were out, and temps crested the 70s. I watched the asphalt blasting past my feet on the forward controls.
I was heading to Yesterdays, a small topless place, where Sue works. I shot off Interstate 70 to Alt. The off ramp was a comfortable downhill sweeping turn to the left then across both lanes of on coming traffic. I always accelerate through that one then it sweeps to the right onto Alt. . Highway 70, the bar is right down the street. As I rolled up I notice an abundance of bikes out front. I eased by the bar checking it out and looking for the safest place to park. As I reviewed the bikes, I didn't see many familiar ones. Kind of unusual to have so many strange bikes all together at one time. I parked Freddy, my scooter, in the sand lot at the end of the line of bikes, front tire facing the street, killed the motor and flipped the kickstand down . As I walked along the line of bikes, I look them over closely noting there general condition, watching for customs and checking for some indication of the owners. For the most part they all looked hard ridden and seem to be in different degrees of mechanical soundness. Most were kick only which could pay off for me in the long run, and all had Illinois tags which raised a mental caution flag. Time to see what was happening inside.
The music was loud enough to hear while walking up the steps.
I took in the dim smoky view. I saw Sue dancing on the pool table, which I knew under normal circumstances, would never happen . I notice the owner, herself, tended bar along with the regular bartender. The crowd was three deep in front of the bar All of my senses became extremely heightened. The scene was on the brink of losing control. This was a party heading in the wrong direction. There was so much tension packed in this place, if dripped from the light fixtures. It was just a matter of time before it exploded.
Trying to make my way through the crowd is saw Dave standing at the bar. I didn't even notice his Pan outside . He waved me over to the dark corner. I noticed that he enjoyed every second of this edgy gathering.
“Hey Scooter what's going on man?” I said scanning the crowd. “Where the fuck did all these guys come from, and where the fuck is your Pan?
Scooter let me know that his Pan was locked up in the keg room. “All these riders are on vacation,” he said, “came down to take in the ocean.”
“Say they want to open a chapter down here looking for prospects,” Dave said. As I ponder all this I thought about the Angels chapter in Greenville.
“I think I'll pass on that one, Scooter, I've got my hands full trying to stay alive in the Marine Corps .
Scooter smiled and said, “I'm in, they're having a meeting after they leave here.”
I looked over at Sue dancing on the pool table. She starred at me with a worried crumpling her delicate features. Her set ended and she made her way to me through the crowd. Groping hands slithered and snatched at various parts of her body. She finally made it to me issuing various vulgarities to the offenders, then slid in next to me at the bar.
“Art we've got to get out of here,” She hissed in the din. “I don't need the money, fuck all of these assholes.”
I had to laugh at her temper and eyes sparkling with fear, which gained me a slap in the face. Her eyes bore in to mine as tears welled up. I knew, showing any level of weakness in this crowd, would mark me as a target. I didn't have to wait long for a response. The snappy sound of the slap must have been all this group could stand. It sounded as if a small explosion went off in the corner of the bar. A rumble broke-out behind me. I pulled Sue behind the bar.
She let rounds fly into the ceiling while informing everyone, in a screeching voice, that she was calling the law. This had the desired effect and the place emptied out. One of the locals was down in the corner. I checked him out. He was shot in the shoulder. He would survive the evenings festivities and have a battle scar to show his buddies later.
I had to watch my bike and keep Sue clear of the violence. Motors were starting to cough to life outside. As I walked past the bar Sue caught my arm and apologized . I stepped through the door to witness two guys going at it. I caught a glimpse of the knife blade in the dim neon light. I watched as the friend of the guy that got shot was cut. He went down. The locking blade had done its job.
I headed for my bike but no one was interested in it by then. The club riders were trying to put as much distance between themselves and Yesterdays Tavern as they could, quickly. Loud pipes and angry words swore at the moonlight. Exhaust smells, gasoline mixed with the salt air. I yanked Sue from the bar, pronto.
The law arrived with lights flashing and sirens wailing. Shirley let them know who we were. We loaded up on Fred. I fired off the motor and headed down Interstate 70. Sue held me tight, and I held it to sixty mph. We rode together like that under the stars in and out of the warm air till the ocean was in sight, and I parked in front of the Sand Bar Lounge. She slipped off of the buddy seat, turned to me and gave me a long slow kiss. We strolled into the Sand Bar hand in hand and had a few.
I mentioned how I never got a chance to order a cold one while I was in Yesterdays . She laughed saying they had been warned by the county counsel that they would lose their license, if they had any more trouble. I may have had already had my last beer from Yesterdays .
After last call at the Sand Bar we walked to the beach together. Near the ocean we sat in the sand and talked for hours. Her head on my shoulder felt just right mixed with her sweet smell and the salt air. We watched the sun rise over the Atlantic and shared hot coffee on the beach. Loaded back up on Fred, we headed up Rt. 12 to the ferry that took us across Okacroke Sound to Hatteras. Then we rode down to Duck for breakfast, starting off a new day together.
